Best in Tourism Honoured in National Awards

The fourteenth National Tourism Awards were held on Saturday night. The annual show put off by the Belize Tourism Board is to recognize the best in the tourism industry. The Cayo District was the big winner of the night with four awards, while Placencia took home two. The surprise of the night, there were no awards for San Pedro – déjà vu of the 2012 awards held in 2013. San Ignacio Resort Hotel was named “Hotel of the Year” for a second time. They first captured the award in 2012. Their onsite restaurant, the Running W Steakhouse and Restaurant also picked up the “Restaurant of the Year” title. The other double winner for the night was Splash Dive Center who took home “Tour Operator of the Year” – a title they also won back in 2012. Their Destination Management Company also walked away with the “Hospitality Award.” “Small Accommodation of the Year” went to Vanilla Hills Lodge of Cayo. The Frontline Person of the Year went to Luis Yamil Marin of Tropic Air, who is stationed at the P.G.I.A., while Justo Navez of Caves Branch Jungle Lodge of Cayo District took home the “Tour Guide of the Year” award. The “Major Festival of the Year” went to Battle of the Drums. The special awards of the night; the Lifetime Achievement and Minister’s Award, went to Steve Maestre of the Great House and Vitalino Reyes of Cavetubing dot BZ, respectively.