Daniel Scott (picture with me in the top right photo above) knows how to create community. He leads one of the most successful resorts in the world with his infectious positive energy and ability to connect with his leadership team and guests and create connections among them. In fact, during thanksgiving week 80% of the people at the resort were returning guests. The resort is very beautiful but it's clear that people come back because of the people and connections. It's the people that make the place. It's the people and connections that make a resort feel like home and hospitality staff feel like family.
Daniel is a very successful leader because of this ability to inspire his staff to create community but he's an even better human being because of his desire and actions to make a difference in his community.
While looking to partner with and support a local school near the Mayakoba resort he fatefully met Raquel Mitre who arrived at the community of Cristo Rey in 2011 on a bicycle with very little resources but a big calling to start a school and provide education to the children there. By 2015 her school had 120 students from kindergarten to sixth grade, however, they had limited resources, a dilapidated makeshift building and were being kicked off the land where the school was located. It looked like they were going to have to close the school when Raquel met Daniel who agreed to find a way to build a new school for K'iin Beh. With the support of his family, the owners of the Rosewood Mayakoba and donations from guests the school was built in 2017.
Four years later the beautiful bilingual school (they are also currently building a high school) in partnership with the Rosewood Mayakoba resort are transforming the lives of 300 children and will be impacting their future and families for generations.
While driving through the community on the way to the school and then seeing the smiles, joy and gratitude emanating from these kids on Thanksgiving morning, we were not only able to witness the impact of Daniel, Raquel and all the K'iin Beh teachers and supporters but also truly understand and feel what Thanksgiving is all about.
I've spent 49 Thanksgivings in the US going to the parade in NYC, spending it with my now deceased parents and extended family I love dearly, eating my mom's amazing cheesecake and pecan pie and eating a few pounds of mashed potatoes and stuffing with my siblings and cousins, but I have to say that seeing this miraculous and transformative school filled with joyful and grateful kids in Mexico made this my favorite Thanksgiving of all.
...and we will be back and will be supporting the K'iin Beh school going forward. If you feel inspired you can too. Just visit them here: www.kiinbeh.org
-Jon
