Since I will be staying at an Iberostar mega-resort this summer, I’ve been doing my initial research of this property and came across some newer information about Iberostar resort policies and procedures which may be important to other vacationers as well.

Iberostar resorts have implemented a new way of hosting vacationers while respecting the environment; it’s called Wave of Change and it focuses on reducing tourist’s carbon footprint while vacationing as well as showing respect for the environment.

How does the Wave of Change affect guests staying at Iberostar resorts, you may ask?  Well, here are a few very important items you may want to consider before booking an Iberostar resort:

• No single-use plastics allowed.  That means no more plastic bottles of water in your room’s mini-bar or at the resort in general.  Your room has two larger glass bottles that require refilling at the now numerous water-filling stations located around each resort.  Each floor in every guest room building is supposed to have one as well as stations strategically located at various points around each property.  If you don’t want to deal with this change but still want to vacation at an Iberostar resort, I would suggest you pay a bit extra for your shuttle to stop on the way to your destination from the airport so that you can pick up bottles of water at a convenience store.
• No straws for those fruity or thicker drinks.  You’re going to have to bring your own straws if you think you will need them.
• Be prepared for some seafood changes in your menus.  Iberostar wants to focus on providing more sustainable seafood options for guests which means seafood dishes will use more local and in season types of seafood.  That also means that lobster lovers may only find lobster on menus during lobster season in Mexico which runs March 1-June 30.
• Star Camp Offers Environmentally-Friendly Activities and Programs.  Since educating guests about a healthy environment/oceans is one of Iberostar’s goals, their excellent kid’s club program (Star Camp) devotes one day a week to activities that center around healthy oceans such as making crafts from recycled materials or searching resort beach areas for microplastics.  At some resorts, guests of all ages are encouraged to attend free educational programs and participate in projects to protect and grow local coral reefs.

Iberostar wants to be carbon neutral by 2030, so expect some future growing pains as they continue to transition.

What do you think about how this will affect your resort stay?  Would you still book an Iberostar resort?