RUES Hotel Management & Consulting

Rues’ first Environmental Oriented Projects – Case Studies

1976 was the beginning of Eberhardt Rues’ practical involvement toward Sustainable Hotel and Tourism Development in Latin America with emphasis toward our mission of: Conversation – Education – Sustainable Development (CESD) which are summarized in three case studies. For these studies Rues received the Environmental Award as a “Green Hotelier” in 1996 and 1997 of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (ih&ra) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). All three case studies can be viewed in details at our Web site www.ecofriendlyhotelsrhs.com  following is a brief summary of the projects:

Conservation
First pioneer project: RUES Eco Lodge Village, Amazon Region, Ecuador. 1976 

Design and development of the first environmental tourism project the "RUES Eco Lodge Village" in the Amazon Region of Ecuador in 1976 on 77 hectares of land - 70 hectares were almost of virgin land. Eberhardt Rues was the sole proprietor.

The 70 hectares of virgin land were designated as a "Private Nature Conservancy." And the other 7 hectares were used for the "RUES EcoLodge Village" linked with environmental farming of coffee, bananas, and tropical fruits among others.

The RUES Eco Lodge Village of 7 hectares was flooded in 1980, claiming the loss of two visiting settlers and financial losses of over US$ 300,000.

Education
Second pioneer project: Integrated Environmental Hotel and Tourism Curriculum in Mexico. 1993 - 1994 

Design and implementation of the first “Integrated Environmental Hotel and Tourism Curriculum” at ITESM (Technical Institute of Superior Studies Monterey) for the Hotel and Tourism Study Programs of 9 Semester at Campus Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico;

In addition design, development and implementation of the first “Dual Education System Program in Mexico” with focus on practical internships of minimum 2,500 hours per year during the 9 semester studies. 
Rues held the position as director of the Hotel and Tourism Study Programs.

Sustainable Tourism Development
Third Pioneer Project: Environmental referral group system - "RHS EcoFriendly Hotels of Bolivia" 1994 - 1996 

The launch of the first environmental hotel referral group created multiple opportunities. The principal, Don Mario Mercado of the national hotel company “Hotelera Nacional” who owned also the Radisson Plaza La Paz, attempted to promote Bolivia as an emerging Eco-Tourism Destination. 

Rues was given the position of Corporate General Manager. This was a unique opportunity to actively get involved in “Working Together” within all sectors private and public to promote Bolivia’s great natural and cultural resources and to develop "Sustainable and Social Tourism." Thus gave the birth of the “RUES Hotel Selection – EcoFriendly Hotels of Bolivia.”