BTB holds 16th National Tourism Award Gala Event

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) celebrated its signature event, the highly anticipated 16th National Tourism Awards Gala Event on Saturday, October 20th at Caribbean Motors in Belize City.

Without fail La Isla Bonita, San Pedro, made its presence at this highly anticipated event and walked away with several top awards including, Hospitality Award, Small Accommodation of the Year, Tour Guide Association Of the Year and Top Performing Hotel Award.

The 16th National Tourism Awards was the zenith for the accomplishments made over the past year by our local industry partners. All this hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed as the BTB acknowledged our tourism professionals in the areas of Front line Personnel, Hospitality Award, Hotel of the Year, Small Accommodations of the Year, Tour Guide of the Year, Tour Operator of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Tour Guide Association of the Year, Major Festival/Event of the Year, Tourism Site of the Year, Top Performing Hotel, the Minister’s Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The theme of the night was “Celebrating Excellence”, a setting that was most fitting for the tourism stars of Belize, which depicts the diversity of Belize’s tourism product.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Category Winner Property/Area

Frontline Personnel                                 Nikita Young                             Chabil Mar
Hospitality Award                     Belize Chocolate Company                 San Pedro
Hotel of the Year                                        The Lodge at Chaa Creek                      Cayo
Small Accommodation of the Year       Cayo Espanto                          San Pedro
Tour Guide of the Year                             Carlos Hernandez                    Ian Anderson’s Cave Branch
Tour Operator of the Year                     Chukka Belize                    Belize City
Restaurant of the Year                             The Grove House by Chef Adan          Hopkins
Festival of the Year                                   Caye Caulker Lobster Festival       Caye Caulker
Tourism Site of the Year                          St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park    Belmopan
Top Performing Hotel           Grand Caribe                           San Pedro
Tour Guide Association of the Year    San Pedro Tourist Guide Association San Pedro

In addition, the Minister’s Award went to IIsa Villanueva from Placencia Village, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Ian & Ella Anderson of Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch.

The BTB would like to congratulate all the winners of the 16th National Tourism Awards as well as all nominees for the excellent work throughout the year!