SUSTAINABILITY POLICY

Mission Statement

Luxury Machu Picchu provides authentic, ones-in- a-lifetime travel experiences, by taking travelers to local communities and cultural heritage, without negatively effecting the environment or the cultural identity of the places visited. Luxury Machu Picchu obligates itself to closely cooperate with its suppliers (transportation, accommodation, guides, etc.) and clients and provides them with guidelines of how to operate and act responsibly. Although being focused on preserving the cultural heritage of each destination, Luxury Machu Picchu is highly dedicated to ensure the introduction of sustainability into the management system in its entirety, including environmental, social and economic issues.

Social policy and human rights

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
According to the article 87 and 98 of the ILO convention, all employees of Luxury Machu Picchu are free to join a workers union. At Luxury Machu Picchu, we additionally strive for equal opportunities for all present and potential employees and therefore do not discriminate against anyone for their membership of or affiliation to any trade unions or political parties.

FORCED LABOUR
At Luxury Machu Picchu, all employees are free to choose where and when they begin and end their work with us. The employment can be ended by the employee with a notice period of minimum one calendar month.

LIVING WAGE
The legal minimum wage in Peru is 850 PEN (equivalent to around 260 USD) per month. At Luxury Machu Picchu, we think that this wage is not enough for a person to make a living, that is why we decided to pay wages above this legal minimum.

HEALTH INSURANCE
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we contribute to a medical insurance for all our employees.

HOLIDAY LEAVE/SICK LEAVE
After a working period of six months in the company, all employees of Luxury Machu Picchu have a right of 30 days of paid vacations per year. Additionally, all employees at Cultural Immersion Travel Peru are entitled to paid sick leave, if certified by a doctor.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we clearly do not accept any form of discrimination related to gender, age, race, religion, political opinion or sexual orientation. At Luxury Machu Picchu, we try to recruit local people in both office and field positions where possible. Members of staff are being trained and receive the same remuneration as foreigners doing the same job. We are also highly sensible to the topic of gender discrimination in the recruitment process and promote diversity in the selection of our staff.

CHILD LABOR
According to the ILO norm no. 138 and our own standards, we do not employ any child under the age of 18 in our company. We also make sure that all of our suppliers comply with these standards.

Transportation / Transport Suppliers

TRANSPORT TO DESTINATION
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we are not responsible for the international flights of our clients as the international flights are arranged by our clients independently. For the transportation from destination to destination inside Peru, we offer sustainable alternatives to our clients wherever possible. Unfortunately, there is no train system existing in Peru (excluding a few very expensive luxury trains) and distances are often too far for bus journeys. However, wherever possible, we offer alternative bus or train trips to our client, in order to air travel or private transportation.

CHOICE OF TRANSPORTATION SUPPLIERS
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we have carefully selected our transportation suppliers and work with all our suppliers for several years. All cars, vans, busses, etc., used by our transportation suppliers, are new, comfortable and comply with all regulations with regards to CO2-Emissions.

Accommodations

SUSTAINABLE ACCOMMODATION POLICY
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we give preference to accommodations with certificates acknowledged by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). If there are no suitable certified accommodations, preference is given to accommodations with a good and verifiable reputation on sustainability behavior.

CHILD LABOR/SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we comply with international legislation and do not accept child labor (as defined in ILO norm no. 138) not only within our company but also with our suppliers.
Additionally, we do not tolerate child prostitution at the premises and facilities of subcontracted accommodations. Luxury Machu Picchu will end the contractual agreement prematurely if the accommodation does not take adequate measures to prevent sexual exploitation of children or employs children under the age of 16.

ACCOMMODATIONS RESPECTING AND FEATURING LOCAL ARCHITECTURE, SETTINGS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we give preference to accommodations and restaurants that incorporate elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage, while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities At Luxury Machu Picchu, we aim at providing an authentic, local experience to travelers from all over the world. In terms of hotels, we (wherever possible) give preference to smaller, family-owned hotels (instead of big chains) that offer a personalized service and an authentic local experience.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES´ RESOURCES
In case of evidence that contracted accommodations jeopardize the provision or integrity of basic services such as food, water, energy, healthcare or soil to the neighboring communities it is a reason to terminate the co-operation with the accommodation.

Excursions

SUSTAINABLE EXCURSION POLICY
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we do not offer excursions that harm humans, animals, plants, natural resources (e.g. water/energy), or which are socially/culturally unacceptable. We do not offer activities that negatively impact the natural, cultural or social environment.

WILDLIFE
Wildlife species are not harvested, consumed, displayed, sold, or traded, except as part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilisation is sustainable and in compliance with local, national and international law. Excursions which include interactions with wildlife comply with relevant (e.g. Travelife) codes of conduct. They do not lead to any adverse effects on the viability and behavior of populations in the wild. Any disturbance of natural ecosystems is minimized.

SKILLED TOUR GUIDES
At Luxury Machu Picchu we only work with licenced, local tour guides. All our tour guides have been grown up in the region they are working in and have a special dedication to the protection and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the country.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we offer packages, that include visits to protected areas, especially in the Peruvian Amazon. When visiting protected areas, we have made sure, that our clients are always guided by local, specially trained tour guides that make sure the fragile ecosystem is not disturbed and that awareness for the need of protection for this area is risen.

FORBIDDEN SOUVENIRS
The company and its direct service providers do not promote souvenirs which contain threatened flora and fauna species as indicated in the CITES treaty and the IUCN ‘Red List’; historic and archaeological artefacts

Customer Communication and protection

CUSTOMER PRIVACY
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we strongly believe in protecting consumer privacy. That's why we only ask for information related to the services we provide. We never sell, rent, share, trade or give away any personal information to anyone.

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MESSAGES
At Luxury Machu Picchu, we comply with the relevant standards with regards to marketing and advertising messages and do not promise more than is delivered.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Product and price information is clear, complete and accurate with regards to the company and its products and services.