This pilot project is focused on showing a balance between ecosystem conservation and food production, which is both possible and necessary in today´s world. The project connects hotel associates, guests and the community to food production and to the land in a unique way. In the gardens of Hilton La Romana, organic fruits, vegetables, and honey are cultivated to demonstrate how sustainable agriculture can be undertaken. Today approximately 5% of the food used in the Central Kitchen of Hilton La Romana comes from these gardens.

Local children from the Benerito School visit the garden and learn the importance and benefits of growing produce. The school children also prepare delicious pizzas for their lunch using the vegetables they harvested in the garden, and receive a school kit (backpack, notebooks, pencils and pens) to encourage being meritorious students in their school.

This project has been replicated inside the Benerito School at Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, so all the students have the chance to learn about sustainable agriculture and the production of food in their own backyard. This initiative is part of a bigger initiative called Playa Cares Schools, established by Playa Hotels & Resorts in Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica, To create a culture of sustainability in local educational Institutions, using them as a platform to work with key stakeholders in the development of our sustainable destinations.