Belize Tourism Board Celebrates its 11th Annual National Tourism Awards

Will Moreno
6/9/2011

Last night the Belize Tourism Board held its annual gala event, 11th Annual National Tourism Awards which was held at Old Belize. This event recognizes the establishments and people who have worked hard to make Belize such a wonderful tourist destination.

Rolling out the red carpet is a fitting way to recognizing such great talents in the tourism industry which makes tourism what it is today in beautiful Belize. The sweet melodies of the steel pan, being played by the Pantempters, filled the air as the nominees walked the red carpet to get their photos taken while being welcomed by the staff of the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and congratulated on jobs well done throughout the year.

The master of ceremonies for this event was Indira Craig and William Neal who did a wonderful job at keeping the invited guests thoroughly entertained. The event was officially opened by a wonderful rendition of the Belize National Anthem sung by Clive Meyers accompanied by Garifuna Drummers. Ms. Seleni Matus, Director of Tourism then gave the welcome address followed by the Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture who gave the Minister's Address.

While dinner was served the nominees and invited guests were entertained first by a musical jazz interlude by Ms. Tricia Gabourel followed by a wonderful folkloric dance by the Belize Dance Company.

Then came time for the important event that everyone was waiting for. The time to find out who the winners were for the year. The decisive winners who were awarded are as follow:

Small Hotel of the Year:  Table Rock Jungle Lodge from the Cayo District of Belize.

Restaurant of the Year: Maya Beach Hotel Bistro From Placencia in the Stann Creek District of Belize.

Frontline Person of the Year: Althea Sheble of Chabil Mar Villas of Placencia in the Stann Creek District of Belize.

Tourguide of the Year: Inez Ramirez

Tour Operator of the Year: Avadon Divers from Placencia in the Stann Creek District of Belize.

Hotel of the Year: Chaa Creek from the Cayo District of Belize.

Minister's Award: Mr. Romel Gomez owner and proprietor of Ruby's Hotel in San Pedro - Ambergris Caye in Belize.

Then finally it came time to introduce a very important award:
Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Placida Leonora Requena from Punta Gorda Town in the Toledo District of Belize. She is the proud owner of Requena's Charter Services and has been serving the Tourism community for over 35 years.
In her absence her brother, Reynaldo Guerrero and her daughters Estella and Rebekah accepted this award.

Special Recognition Certificates went to:

Coco Plum Island Resort - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Romance in Central & South America.

 Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort  - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Top 10 Hotels with Best Service in the World & Best Service in Central & South America.

Hickatee Cottages - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for B&B Inn In Central & South America.

 Las Terrazas Resort - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Luxury In Central & South America.

 The Phoenix Resort  - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Relaxation & Spa In Central & South America & Best Service In Central & South America.

San Pedro - Ambergris Caye - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Top 25 Destinations In Central & South America.

Victoria House - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Romance In Central & South.

Xanadu Island Resort - Recognized as Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice for Best Service In Central & South America.

Special Recognition Awards for the Fort Street Tourism Zone:

Ruth Smith - President of Hair Braiders Association
Carol Jones - Manager of Giddy Up Horse and Carriage Tours

La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge 2011

The La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is a grueling multi-day canoe race traveling down the Old Belize River. Starting from the historic Hawksworth Bridge in San Ignacio, Cayo District to the Belcan Bridge in Belize City. The route runs West to East along the Macal and Belize Rivers which was once a historic route and vital link between San Ignacio, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, and the bustling port of Belize City. This is a race for everyone (not just professional racers)!

Conceptualised by Richard Harrison of Big-H Enterprises for the purpose of launching Vida brand purified water, La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge made its debut on March 9, 1998 with great support from many Belizean corporations and organizations such as The Belize Tourism Board , The Lodge at Chaa Creek resort, and the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. It was seen as an opportunity to bring many partners with similar interests together to build an event that could allow for promotional themes of 'natural products' identified with sports, endurance, nutrition, and well being. The underlying concept is one of a team of businesses and organisations interested in the environment/ecology, history/culture and the tourism potential which the Belize Old River offers as one of the great natural resources of Belize.

 There are 8 divisions for the race:

1. Male  
2. Female  
3. Mixed  
4. Masters 
5. Dory 
6. Intramural 
7. Pleasure craft 
8. Family Adventure Race

There are three night stops as the race progresses: Banana Bank on the first night, Double Head Cabbage on the second night, and Burrel Boom on the third night. The first canoes enter into Belize City to cheering crowds at about 10:00 am on the last day.

 

The La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge Race coincides with the Baron Bliss Day Celebrations in honor of Belize's great benefactor Henry Victor Edward Bliss, who left a significant will to the people of Belize. The race occurs each year in March. This year (2011), the canoes left San Ignacio on March 4 and will arrive in Belize City on March 7. The teams, which race for station prizes along the way, battle for the major cash prizes awarded at the end of the race.

For more information on the La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, Click Here.

Who do you think will win this years race?

What constitutes an Eco-Friendly Resort?

 What is an Eco Resort?

At Platinum International Real Estate and Investments we have been approached many times about what constitutes and Eco-resort and have finally come up with your basic answer.
An eco-resort protects the environment, benefits local communities, and helps guests learn about the local surroundings while they explore them. Eco-resorts are not just for leisure but offer the tourist a complete eco-experience. A true Eco-resort not only offers eco-friendly sightseeing , but the accommodation, transport and cooking methods are also eco-friendly. Using solar heating, bio-toilets, and using transport systems more efficiently are all eco-friendly examples put to use to reduce the effect of people on the environment and in essence reducing our carbon footprints.

What is the standard criteria for the Certification of an Eco-Resort?

• Design and Construction
• Water conservation
• Liquid waste management
• Solid waste management
• Energy production and conservation
• Natural areas and conservation
• Lawn and gardens
• Protection of flora and fauna
• Contamination of air, water and soil
• Environmental education
• Quality standards

 Since only about 1% of the eco-resorts are actually certified, it is sometimes better to check with the resorts directly.

Here is a list of some questions to ask and keep in mind.

What does the resort do to protect and conserve the local flora and fauna?

How does it involve local communities?

What interpretive facilities (cultural or ecological) are available to guests?

Other questions that are at the micro-level for the observant and discerning traveller are:

What are the ways in which the resort contributes to the local community? Are there employment opportunities, education programmes for the people employed and the guests? Does the eco-resort contribute to the area's economy by buying local products?

What does the property do to minimize waste? How do you manage garbage, waste and recyclables?

Are the towels and bed linen changed every day for a guest automatically or is it done only if there is a guest request?

How are the toiletries packaged? And is the packaging recycled?

How is grey water and sewage treated ?

Are any alternative energy resources like solar or wind used?

Is there air-conditioning or air cooling?

Do you have any other water conservation measures? And if so, what are they?

Did you use environmentally friendly building materials and indigenous plants in the construction and landscaping of the resort?

Some of Belize's Eco-Friendly Resorts are : Blackadore Caye, Black Rock, Blancaneaux Lodge, Casa Del Caballo, Chaa Creek, Chan Chich Lodge, Cotton Tree Lodge, El Pescador, Hamanasi, Jaguar Paw, Journey's End, Kaana and Lamanai. This list is certainly not complete being that there are many others that we have not mentioned.