Sustainability has become a core expectation in the meetings industry. According to the 2025 American Express GBT Global Meetings and Events Forecast, over 50% of meeting professionals consider it a top priority when planning events, and 47% of organizations have set clear sustainability goals for their meeting programs. As environmental and social impact move to the forefront of business strategy, planners are turning to venues and destinations that deliver measurable progress.
Mexico’s largest hospitality group, Posadas, and its MICE-focused brand Fiesta Americana Travelty Meetings & Events, are positioning themselves squarely in that space. With a portfolio of resorts across Mexico and a new Caribbean property called Fiesta Americana Funeeq Punta Cana opening soon in the Dominican Republic, the brand is building a reputation for pairing high-touch service with a rigorous Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy.
“Planners want proof, not promises,” said David Manzella, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Fiesta Americana Travelty Meetings & Events. “We design every property and program so sustainability is built in from the start, making it easier for clients to meet their ESG goals while creating events people will remember.”
ESG as a Business Driver
Fiesta Americana Travelty Meetings & Events sits at the heart of Posadas’ MICE strategy. The brand provides purpose-built meeting spaces, incentive-ready resort settings, and a planning infrastructure that integrates environmental and social responsibility into every stage of the event lifecycle. This commitment takes shape under a company-wide Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework called Meaningful Travel.
The company executes this vision through a sustainability model based on a comprehensive materiality analysis. The model aligns with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) frameworks and follows three core pillars: Environment, Social, and Governance.
Fourteen material ESG topics are each mapped to specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shape the company’s initiatives, which span natural capital protection, water and waste management, energy efficiency, climate action, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“We conduct regular ESG diagnostics across a representative sample of our portfolio to assess maturity, benchmark against global best practices, and identify areas for improvement. All material topics have a dedicated action plan, a responsible team, and a target completion date, creating an accountable and measurable roadmap,” said Manzella.
Turning Commitment into Results
The impact is visible across operations, properties, and communities, with tangible outcomes that prove the model works in practice. Recent results show the strategy in action:
Environmental Impact
- Green Key distinction for 125 hotels.
- LEED Gold Certification for Live Aqua San Miguel de Allende.
- Blue Flag Certification for beaches at Live Aqua Cancún, Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos, and Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancún.
- Four photovoltaic solar systems installed in 2023, alongside clean energy contracts with certified suppliers.
- 933 metric tons of waste recovered, including 615,000 kg of cardboard, 86,000 kg of cooking oil, and 73,000 kg of PET plastic.
- Sea turtle conservation at 32 hotels: over 8,000 nests protected and approximately 700,000 hatchlings released.
Social Investment
- 142,720 hours of employee training, including leadership, technical skills, and sustainability.
- UNICEF-backed psychological support line for victims of domestic violence, assisting 593 children and 441 women.
- Education programs supporting 570 children and youth and enabling 46 adults to complete high school.
- Disaster relief for more than 2,300 people affected by hurricanes, floods, and fires.
Governance Leadership
- 83% of supplier spend passed through ESG evaluation filters.
- 17,095 employees trained in ethics in 2023.
- 84% of hotel executive committee roles filled through internal promotions, reinforcing a culture of leadership development.
Posadas’ efforts have earned recognition from Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). The company has also received the Helvex “Hydro Sustainable” distinction and Environmental Quality Tourism and Green Companies certifications.
Building for Long-Term Impact
Each property incorporates design choices that reduce resource use and operational costs from day one. Some of the property features include:
- Thermal insulation, duo-vent windows, and reflective roofing for energy efficiency.
- High-efficiency HVAC systems with eco-friendly refrigerants.
- Solar thermal collectors for water and pool heating.
- Greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and low-flow fixtures.
Operations follow the same discipline, with automated lighting and climate controls, biodegradable cleaning products, strict waste segregation, and guest-facing programs like optional linen changes.
Local sourcing is another priority. The company supports regional economies by prioritizing nearby producers for food, materials, and services, and allows planners to integrate authentic community impact into event programs.
“The upcoming Fiesta Americana Funeeq Punta Cana will reflect the same values,” said Manzella. “This includes energy-efficient infrastructure with advanced insulation, LED lighting, automated climate control, water management systems such as greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, low-flow fixtures, and a sourcing policy that favors local suppliers to support the regional economy.”
The Posadas Foundation
Posadas created the Posadas Foundation in 2005 in response to Hurricane Wilma, when company employees mobilized to support affected communities. Nearly two decades later, it has evolved into a nationwide social impact platform focusing on health, education, disaster relief, and community resilience.
The foundation recently recorded its strongest fundraising year, collecting 30% more than its pre-pandemic high in 2019. Funds directly supported thousands of beneficiaries, including 570 children and youth enrolled in educational programs and 46 adults who completed high school through a single-exam program offered by the Ministry of Education. It also financed health services for over 1,800 people, covering vision exams, prescription glasses, surgeries, and psychomotor therapy.
Partnerships play a central role in its outreach. A collaboration with UNICEF established a specialized psychological support line for domestic violence victims, which assisted 441 women, 593 children, and 69 accompanying family members. The initiative also provided more than 1,880 nights of shelter and 11,590 meals.
“The foundation allows us to go beyond our hotel walls and address our communities’ needs. This work is deeply personal for many of our employees because they see firsthand the difference it makes in people’s lives,” said Manzella.
The New Standard for Purpose-Driven Events
Corporate clients are under growing pressure to demonstrate tangible sustainability outcomes, and events are now a high-visibility platform for doing so. Choosing the right partner can make the difference between a program that simply offsets its footprint and one that drives measurable change.
Posadas’ model gives planners proof points, transparency, and a framework that can be incorporated into their own reporting. This level of accountability satisfies stakeholder expectations and can strengthen a brand’s positioning with employees, customers, and investors.
“Planners need partners who can help them deliver on the ESG promises their organizations are making. We see our role as making it easy for them to meet those goals while creating experiences that inspire and connect people,” Manzella said.
To book a sustainable meeting or event at one of Fiesta Americana’s resorts or hotels, click here.
This content was created collaboratively by Fiesta Americana Travelty Meetings & Events/Posadas and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.
