Congratulations to Ms. Elvi, Seaduced, Ali Flota, and Hidden Treasure Restaurant!!!!!
9TH ANNUAL TOURISM AWARD CEREMONY HELD LAST NIGHT
April 23, 2009
The ninth annual Belize Tourism Board National Award Ceremony was held at the Old Belize Jungle Pavilion on Wednesday night. A total of fourteen awards including a new category for Restaurant of the year were handed out to those who have made and continue to make contributions to the tourism industry. Product Development Officer and person in charge of the award program, Raymond Mossiah tells us more.
Raymond Mossiah; Product Development Officer; BTB
"We had fourteen awards actually but for one category we had three recipients and that was the Environmental Award. That was the only award where multiple people were awarded but that is because of projects that they working on and other environmental issues. One of the most important awards is the Lifetime Achievement Award and that is somebody who has distinguished themselves in contributing significantly to the development of tourism in Belize. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Marcela Staines and she is from Elvi's Kitchen in San Pedro Ambergris Caye. But of note also was all the other recipients, we had for example the small vendor which was Lola's Art from Seine Bight, we had the small hotel of the year was from Toledo, that's the SunCreek Lodge, the Hotel of the year was Hamanasi and if you noticed the south did very well in this years award."
At least 350 stakeholders attended last night's ceremony. Mossiah highlighted the other awardees at last night's ceremony.
Raymond Mossiah; Product Development Officer; BTB
"We had the Tour Operator of the Year was Seaduced from Ambergris Caye, the tour guide of the year was presented to Mr. Eworth Garbutt from Robert's Grove in Palcencia, the Education Award of the Year was presented to the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, the receptive award was presented to the Palcencia Tourism Center who has done a fabulous job down there, the Corporate Organization of the Year was presented to BRC Printing in San Ignacio the Minister's Award was presented to Miss Rosita Mai and she has been a pioneer not only in tourism but specifically in the Corozal District and she has done a great deal in terms of developing tourism in Corozal and contributing to the development and the strength of the Corozal BTIA. We have of course Pamela Roberts from the Radisson who was the front line person of the year; for the cultural award of the year that was presented to the Belize National Dance Company and the Restaurant of the Year award, which is a new category this year was won by Hidden Treasures of San Pedro Ambergris Caye. This is important to the marketing efforts as well as getting people involve in tourism. And I am sure that for the winners it rejuvenated them and it serves as a motivation to the public at large and to the stakeholders."
Guests at the ceremony last night included Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia and Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega. The Belize Tourism Board hosts the annual event again to recognize those who continue to raise the bar of excellence in providing quality service to all visitors.
Ambergris Today congratulates four of San Pedro’s best who were winners at the 9th Annual Tourism Awards Ceremony held last night, Wednesday, April 22, at the Old Belize Pavilion in Belize City.
*Mrs. Elvia Staines received the top honors with the Lifetime Achievement Award
*SEAduced by Belize received the Tour Operator of the Year 2008
*Hidden Treasure Restaurant received Restaurant of the Year 2008
*Ali Flota from El Pescador shared the award of Environmental Organization of the Year along with Mike Heusner and Craig Haydes for work in getting the Catch & Release Legislation passed for the protection of Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon in Belize
Mrs. Elvia Staines was awarded for her lifetime contribution in the tourism industry through the world famous Elvi's Kitchen
Rebecca and Elito Arceo of SEAduced
Mr. Ruben Mu�oz and his family of Hidden Treasure Restaurant