Adriana Pal is the receptionist and was recently named sustainability coordinator at Latitude 10. Born and raised in San José, she majored in Hotel Management in the Universidad Interamericana de Costa Rica, located in Heredia. She talked with me between tending to her many and various responsibilities on a typical overcast but lovely day during the Green Season in Santa Teresa.
Frances: When did you know you wanted to work in tourism?
Adriana: Not until I finished high school; it was a tough decision because at the moment I was very confused about what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to do something that had to do with traveling and nature, so I made up my mind and decided to go for Hotel Management.
Frances: Did you have other hotel experience before joining the Latitude 10 staff?
Adriana: Yes, I’ve been working in hotels ever since I was 18, so it’s been about 8 years now and I still love it! I started in a small hostel in San José, then moved to Montezuma for my internship and then moved to Malpais, and since then I’ve been working in different resorts, similar to Latitude 10.
Frances: Explain what a typical day is like for you at work.
Adriana: I do a little bit of everything; I'm a receptionist, waitress, bartender, also I’m in charge of reservations, sustainability and sometimes I’m the housekeeper. That's what makes my job so much fun!
Frances: What do you feel are the benefits for tourists or travelers who come to stay at an eco-resort or sustainable hotel as opposed to a regular, mainstream accommodation that does not consider sustainability?
Adriana: I think eco-resorts make travelers develop awareness about the importance of having a balance with nature so when they go back to their real lives, they can apply what they’ve learned in a sustainable hotel. Working in other not-so-sustainable hotels, I’ve seen the guests continue to be detached from nature, and prefer not to get involved with it. They just don’t realize the great bond humans have with Mother Nature, the fact that she needs us just as much as we need her, and I think that this is what eco-resorts do, they remind us about this special bond.
Frances: Do you think your accommodation benefits from being managed by Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality?
Adriana: Yes, I think that Cayuga is doing a great job with Latitude 10. I think this hotel benefits from their management because it’s a great opportunity for their employees to learn about environmental issues, and at the same time they can help the community develop awareness of the importance of being “eco-friendly.” Personally, I like the fact that Cayuga really cares about their employees.
Frances: You were recently put in charge of the hotel’s sustainability program? What duties does that entail?
Adriana: Latitude 10 is currently working on the process of being certified by the Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST) and my job is to make sure we achieve this. The process involves incorporating sustainable practices in every single one of the hotel's activities, such as educating the staff and guests on environmental issues and also we are working on making an impact on the community and helping the local people develop more ecological awareness.
Frances: If the guests who come in contact with you during their stay could take away one particular memory or feeling about you as a staff member, what would you want them to take away and remember forever?
Adriana: I think I’m a person who likes freedom and really enjoys being around nature, so I think that’s the feeling people get when I’m around them.
Frances: What do you like best about your job?
Adriana: To be able to keep learning! I love moving forward professionally. I also love it when a guest comes back from a tour or activity that I recommended and I see their happy faces. I remember particularly one time a guest told me that he would have never tried surfing if it wasn’t for my encouragement, so that’s makes it rewarding, to know that you are changing people’s perspective in a positive way.
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