It’s not every day you get to raise a glass to a legacy, let alone one that helped shape the very soul of an island. This year, we do just that as we proudly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the San Pedro Holiday Hotel, a place that has meant so much more than just a place to stay. It has been a home, a meeting ground, a first impression, and a lasting memory for locals and travelers alike.
This anniversary isn’t just about a building, it’s about a dream that took root beneath the coconut trees of a sleepy fishing village. It’s about a woman named Ms. Celi McCorkle who, with nothing more than determination and vision, planted the first seeds of tourism in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Long before the buzz of golf carts and the hum of beachfront nightlife, there was Celi – dragging supplies from sailboats, welcoming strangers with warmth, cooking for guests and creating what would become the first hotel on Ambergris Caye.
She didn’t just build a hotel, she built an industry.
Holiday Hotel is a Pioneer
In those early days, who could have imagined what the island would become? What started as a quiet escape is now a world-renowned destination. Yet through all the changes, good, bad, and everything in between, Holiday Hotel has remained a constant, a thread in the fabric of our island’s story.
Today, Ms. Celi McCorkle is rightly remembered as Belize’s Mother of Tourism and for good reason. Her work, her sweat, and her unwavering belief in San Pedro’s potential helped transform not just our island, but an entire nation’s approach to hospitality. She’s not just a founder. She’s a living legend, a symbol of resilience, heart, and bold ambition.
And while the skyline has grown taller and the pace a little faster, Holiday Hotel remains true to its roots: a place where you’re never a stranger for long.
This 60-year milestone is more than a celebration, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come. From pulling building materials off boats to pioneering an industry that now sustains thousands, this hotel stands as a testament to the power of vision, grit, and community.
So here’s to the San Pedro Holiday Hotel, to 60 trips around the sun, to decades of laughter echoing in its verandahs, to countless stories told over cocktails at the bar, those unforgettable Halloween, Easter and New Year’s Eve bashes and to the guests who became family.
May the next 60 years be just as bold, just as beautiful, and just as full of heart. Happy 60th birthday to the one that started it all – The San Pedro Holiday Hotel. 
(above left) Mrs. Celi with son Johnny Greif and daughter Lisa McCorkle at the 13th annual Belize Tourism Awards, as the BTB honored Celi as a pioneer in tourism. (above right) Mrs. Celi along with the late Angel Nuñez and late Martha Guerrero, all founders of the San Pedro High School.
The late Angel Nuñez wrote more about the history of The San Pedro Holiday Hotel and the amazing Mrs. Celi McCorkle. Click the link above to go back in time at the Holiday Hotel.
