BELIZE HOTEL ASSOCIATION
#13 Cork Street, P. O. Box 2480, Belize City, Belize
Tel/Fax: 501-223-0669, E-mail:
[email protected], Website:
www.belizehotels.org For Immediate Release
January 5, 2009
Press Release
Re.: Steve Odell, Videographer/Photographer
The Belize Hotel Association was approached some time ago by Mr. Steve Odell seeking assistance in the production of video advertisement and photography for member properties. Our offices assisted Mr. Odell by initiating contact with members, arranging photo shoots and generally assisting to make sure that he was afforded as many courtesies as was necessary to facilitate the actual production of his work in Belize.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Odell placed the advertisements, videos and photos collectively into a website which he named
www.belizehotelassociation.com. Mr. Odell promised that the site would be turned over to the Belize Hotel Association in due time and that he was working to fine tune the site.
The offices of the Belize Hotel Association became inundated with complaints about Mr. Odell's lack of professionalism towards some member property owners and managers. Mr. Odell further became hostile towards the Belize Hotel Association when the Association refused to write a support letter to the Belize Tourism Board and other authorities seeking assistance for him to bring in his production equipment, household items, vehicle and other items free of taxation, levy or charges of any kind into our country.
To this day, there are properties that have paid for and not received the product he promised to them.
We have been notified by member properties that he is again soliciting work from properties using the same listed
www.belizehotelassociation.com website as his bargaining tool and reference.
The BHA further received word today that he is using the guise of being the official photographer/videographer of the BHA to sell his services to the unsuspecting Belizeans business owners and individuals living in Spanish Lookout.
The BHA would like to warn everyone in Spanish Lookout that Mr. Odell does not represent, own or is a part of the BHA and has no right to use the BHA's name to garner business for his inadequate and shoddy services.
We have a list of complaints against him and his services and we are taking this opportunity to warn all of Spanish Lookout to beforehand so that they do not get burned by this individual. Mr. Steve Odell does not represent the Belize Hotel Association in any way nor is he authorized to use the name of the Belize Hotel Association in reference to any work he is proposing to do for any person, property or organization.
Any person who does business with Mr. Steve Odell does so at his own risk. The Belize Hotel Association distances itself from him and his handy work in this country and asks that he removes the name of the association from his advertizing and promotions.
He has proposed to now sell us the site
www.belizehotelassociation.com at a premium to the BHA. The only site that is recognized to truly represent the BHA is
www.belizehotels.org .
The BHA has started proceedings to have this settled in a court of law in Belize and has advised the pertinent departments of Government such as the Department of Immigration, the Belize Tourist Board and all members of the Tourism Sector of his proceedings in Belize.
Kindly contact the offices of the Belize Hotel Association for any further details about Mr. Odell's sojourn in our country via telephone or email.
Signed,
Kenrick Theus, President
Belize Hotel Association
Belize Hotel Association Contact:
Office Telephone: 223.0669
Personal Cell: 672.0669
Email:
[email protected]Kenrick Raymark Theus, Director
International Centre for Responsible Tourism-Belize
Instant Message Contact:
[email protected]Personal Cell Number: (501) 625.2998
ICRT-Belize Cell Number: (501) 672.0669
Hotel Association Number: (501) 223.0669
Alternative Office Contact: (501) 671.0669
Office Fax: (501) 223.0669
Alternative email:
[email protected]The Third International Responsible Tourism Conference will be held in Belmopan, Belize in May 2009.
Kindly visit the website for more details
www.icrtbelize.org"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
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