If you think this site is deserving you can vote - they're in the Receptive Service of the Year Award (whatever that really means)
www.travelbelize.org/
Good luck to Marty and family.
The two highest votes in each category will be presented to the judging panels and nominees will be assessed on how well they meet the award criteria. These semi-finalists will then be further reviewed, and may even be subject to site visits or interviews. The panel of judges will then confer and pick the winner for each category.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Tourism Awards Selection Committee chooses a person who has been
active in the tourism industry and who has shown tremendous dedication
and commitment in the development of tourism in Belize.
Destination of the Year *New*
This destination is proactive in terms of marketing, product enhancement
and sustainability initiatives. In addition, customers rave about their
satisfaction levels and high service standards found throughout. Events
and attractions are bountiful while both the tangible and intangible
product offering contribute to the lure, comfort and convenience of all
who visit.
Environmental Organization of the Year
An organization that is a leader in the conservation and preservation of
Belize's natural resources; practices sustainable management of
Belize's natural resources, supports community development and promotes
public awareness and education of environmental preservation.
Receptive Service of the Year
A tourism business entity that offers exceptional service to customers,
the ability to manage a business seamlessly, is sensitive to the needs
of staff, flexible in adapting to change and accommodating to the
industry's needs and offers an authentic Belizean experience.
Hotel of the Year
A licensed hotel that offers a gateway to paradise, where service
exceeds excellence, engulfed with positive attitude and attentiveness
of staff, offers exceptional value for money, has outstanding facilities
and amenities, remarkable ambiance, innovation and the ability to
provide visitors with a true sample of the Belize brand.
Restaurant of the Year
A restaurant offering a dining experience and not just a meal or a
routine. Here, the ambiance is bliss, the menu offers diversity and the
service is great. The personality of the restaurant is as distinct as
the staff is professional.
Small Hotel of the Year
A licensed small hotel that captures the essence of warmth and
homeliness, displays customer - service excellence, utilizes
environmental best practices and sound management.
Tour Operator of the Year
A licensed tour operator that offers a variety of tours which excels in
service, product innovation, marketing, creativity, uniqueness, safety,
reliability and value for money.
Tour Guide of the Year
A licensed tour guide with a wealth of knowledge, has the ability to
mesmerize an audience, excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
positive attitude, creativity and the ability to provide world-class
tour experience.
Frontline Person of the Year
A frontline employee who has unmatched interpersonal skills, the ability
to welcome guests with great Belizean hospitality, is well versed about
the Belize product and provides a memorable experience.
Cultural Award of the Year
A person or organization that exemplifies Belizean entertainment, is
instrumental in the creative arts, and/or music, food and promotes and
preserves Belize's cultural heritage.
Industry representatives, stakeholders, celebrated guests and tourism friends all met at the Belize Biltmore Plaza's River Hall on Thursday, June 10 with the purpose of accompanying and celebrating the recipients of this year's Tourism Awards, now in its tenth year.
San Pedro has always had a strong presence at the awards and many nominees have come back home with winning trophies throughout the years. With no exception, this year two awards were handed out to for San Pedro. Blue Water Grill took home the award for Restaurant of the Year as they deliver a unique dining experience, ambiance, diversity and great service. Kelly McDermott Kanabar and her staff were present to accept their award.
Receiving a top award for the night was Ms. Celi McCorkle, for her pioneer work in establishing the hospitality industry and great and continuous contributions to the Tourism Industry. She took home the Lifetime Achievement award. San Pedro Town narrowly missed winning the new Destination of the Year Award and Xanadu Resort received special recognition for receiving Green Globe certification.
This year saw a total of 13 awards for the different categories and two special recognition awards. The National Tourism Awards Ceremony recognizes and honors industry partners and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the Industry.
For being essentially instrumental in preserving Belize's cultural heritage through their music and fully exemplifying Belizean entertainment, this year's Cultural Award of the Year went to the Three Kings of Belize; Mr. Wilfred Peters, Mr. Paul Nabor & Mr. Florencio Mes. Small Vendor of the Year went to Tutti Frutti Ice Gelateria for their creative, quality products and providing value for money with an exceptional service.
For his unmatched interpersonal skills, knowledge on Belize and ability to provide a memorable welcome and experience, Mr. Benjamin Awe was presented with the award for Frontline Person of the Year. Jaguar Reef Lodge proudly received the award for Hotel of the Year for excelling in service, ambiance, innovation and standards.
Receptive Service of the Year went to the Museum of Belize for their exceptional service to customers, offering an authentic Belizean experience and accommodating to the industry's needs. For their variety, service excellence, innovation, safety and reliability Caves Branch Adventure Co. obtained the Tour Operator of the Year Award.
Small Hotel of the Year went to The Lodge at Big Falls for its authenticity in Belizean experience and great service while the award for Environmental Organization of the Year went to the International Center for Responsible Tourism for displaying conservation of Belize's natural resources and promoting public awareness and education of environmental preservation.
Mr. Eloy Cuevas proudly took home the award for Tour Guide of the Year for his wealth of knowledge, positive attitude and dedication and commitment to exceptional tour guide practices. The newly introduced award for Destination of the Year went to Hopkins Village for its product enhancement, sustainability initiatives, high service standards, events and attractions. Tour Guide Rudolph Thompson was honored with a Special Recognition award for his ultimate example of dedication to the job and assisting in saving the life of a client. The other Special Recognition was given to the three Green Globe certified hotels in Belize: The Lodge at Chaa Creek, Hamanasi and Xanadu.
Every year, the Minister's Award is presented to someone whose work and unselfish interest in the tourism industry is grounded in community service and activism. This year Mr. Brian Young filled those requirements as he became the most recent recipient of this award.
The BTB hosted approximately 250 people at the Award Ceremony. Musical Entertainment was provided by Carlos Perote and Ray Arzu Drummers. Dancing entertainment was provided by the Vista Dancers. MC's for the night's event were William Neal and Gwen Nu�ez Gonzalez.
The 10th National Tourism Awards was broadcast live on BBN and streamed live on the Internet. At the event guests also had the opportunity to share in on their Tourism Awards experience through their Facebook and Twitter pages. Congratulations to all the winners.
More on Celi McCorkle
Celi McCorkle started the first hotel for San Pedro which was followed by the opening of the airstrip and dive shops, and the tour guiding business. Celi touched a lot of lives and opened the doors for the development of tourism. Additionally she has contributed much to the tourism industry through her efforts in BTB, BTIA, the Hotel Association and the Caribbean Hotel Association.
She was not only a pioneer, but a stalwart and pillar in tourism. On the side line Celi served as Chairlady of the new San Pedro High School and contributed time, patience, money and efforts towards education, something all Sanpedranos are grateful up to this day. This still very lovely woman, conscientious person, motivated business person, and very caring mother and friend has more credits to her name that it would take a book to do her justice. And just last year she was bestowed with Her Majesty the Queen's Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Ambergris Today
Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Manuel Heredia Jr. further emphasized how going the extra mile helps visitors experience what it means to be Belizean. Encounter after encounter, visitors are always treated with the best service, and so, time has to be taken to celebrate the accomplishment of a job well done. The first order of business was a touching and fitting tribute to Mr. Wilfred Peters by Mr. Rene Villanueva Sr. Belize lost its Belizean Brukdown Icon on Wednesday, June 9, and it was only fitting that Mista Peetaz, one of the Three Kings of Belizean music, be honored with a moment of silence. Also apropos was the first award for the night, Cultural Award of the Year: "Three Kings of Belize". The film by Katia Paradis is a documentary of the three musicians who have held pivotal roles in Belizean music: Florencio Mes, Paul Nabor and Mr. Wilfred Peters.
San Pedro had a total of seven nominees, and on Thursday night, four were finalists. Of those four, Blue Water Grill brought home the prize for Restaurant of the Year. With a great variety of dishes, unique offerings and excellent service, Blue Water Grill was a hit with voters. Owner Kelly McDermott-Kanabar was pleased to accept the award while accompanied by staff members, whom she thanked for their hard work and dedication. While Xanadu was nominated for Hotel of the Year, Jaguar Reef Lodge took home the prize. There was a special prize in store for them however, as BTB took the time to give special recognition to the three resorts who are Green Globe certified. Alongside Chaa Creek Lodge and Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, Xanadu received a special plaque for their efforts at going green. Manager Martin Goldberg took the opportunity to encourage "everyone to make a difference."
The huge award for the night was the Lifetime Achievement Award, once which tourism pioneer and the all around fabulous Celi McCorkle brought home! She was recognized for her hard work and dedication to the tourism industry, having started the Holiday Hotel in June, 1965 as a small inn that catered to travelers, mostly fishermen, who came in by boat to Ambergris Caye. Between her hard work, brains and business sense, she and her husband John Greif Jr. managed to bring flights to the island (now known as Tropic Air) and a new era of tourism began. To date, The Holiday Hotel is a landmark resort that caters to visitors, with many repeat customers who, year after year, keep coming back for more. Congratulations to Ms. Celi Nu�ez-McCorkle, on your well-deserved award.
The full list of winners is as follows: Cultural Award of the Year: Three Kings of Belize; Frontline Person of the Year: Benjamin Awe (Chaa Creek); Tour Guide of the Year: Eloy Quevas (Monkey River Retreat); Small Vendor of the Year: Tutti Frutti Ice Gelateria; Restaurant of the Year: Blue Water Grill (San Pedro); Receptive Service of the Year: Museum of Belize; Environmental Organization of the Year: International Center for Responsible Tourism (ICRT - Belize); Small Hotel of the Year: The Lodge at Big Falls; Tour Operator of the Year: Caves Branch Adventure Company; Hotel of the Year: Jaguar Reef Lodge; Destination of the Year: Hopkins, Stann Creek; Minister's Award: Brian Young Sr.; Lifetime Achievement Award: Celi McCorkle, Holiday Hotel.
The San Pedro Sun wishes to acknowledge the BTB on their innovative strategy at this year's awards. There were new features in the awards location which included an internet kiosk for those wishing to update fans, friends and family of their win, plus live-streaming of the show for the world to see, and a separate media room where the media was able to interview winners uninterrupted by the ceremonies. In keeping up with technology and the fast-paced technological world, it was especially helpful to have a venue to keep the news going.
San Pedro Sun