On April 22nd, 2009, the Belize Tourism Board held its 9th Annual National Tourism Awards at Old Belize. The Placencia Tourism Center was nominated for "Best Receptive Service of the Year".

Those who attended the awards dinner representing the Placencia Tourism Center were Elysia Dial - Director of the Placencia Tourism Center/Placencia BTIA Office, Felisha Brown - Employee of the Placencia Tourism Center/Placencia BTIA Office, Beverly Cabral - Chairperson of the Placencia BTIA, Wendy Lemus - Vice Chairperson of the Placencia BTIA, Gillian Zabaneh - Treasurer of the Placencia BTIA and Benji Eiley.

The night started out with low key jazz music by Jackie Castillo & Jazz Band and drinks. The comedic duo, William Neal and Gwen Nunez-Gonzalez, eventually began the first segment of the awards. As the PTC table waited patiently for their category to come up, they were excited to learn that Eworth Garbutt of Placencia won "Tour Guide of the Year". His impromptu speech was down to earth and from the heart.

Another exciting win was Lola's Art of Seine Bight for "Small Vendor of the Year". It was obvious that Lola Delgado was overwhelmed and surprised of her win by her short and sweet speech, and her daughter-in-law, Helen, said a few heartfelt words of Lola. Two other awards that were given in the first segment of the awards dinner were to Hidden Treasures for "Restaurant of the Year" and Pamela Roberts of the Radisson Fort George for "Front Line Person of the Year".

Finally, the time came for the category, "Best Receptive Service of the Year". As the PTC table anxiously waited and Dione Chamberlain-Miranda started presenting the award with gracious words, Elysia Dial showed up on the huge projected screen in an interview. It was then that the PTC table knew the award was being given to the Placencia Tourism Cente!.

Beverly, Wendy and Gillian all went on stage to support Elysia and Felisha on accepting their award for the PTC. And Elysia, being the responsible and well prepared person that she is, already had an acceptance speech ready... just in case. (See below to read a copy of her speech.) And it's a good thing she did!

She thanked past and present PBTIA board members PBTIA membership, her co-workers Felisha Brown and Lloydia Caballero and past employee, James Cleve Westby, who was a great asset to the PTC the past five years. It was exciting to know that in the first segment of the awards dinner, the Placencia Peninsula was walking away with 3 of the 5 awards given!

After dinner, 5 additional awards were given out to Suncreek Lodge for "Small Hotel of the Year", Belize Dance Company for "Cultural Award of the Year", Mike Heusner, Craig Hayes, & for "Environmental Award of the Year", the Belize Zoo for "Educational Award of the Year" and SEAduced by Belize from San Pedro for "Tour Operator of the Year".

A spectacular show was then presented by the Belize Dance Company while dessert was served. Afterwards, the last 4 awards were presented to BRC Printing for "Corporate Organization of the Year", Hamanasi Dive & Adventure Resort for "Hotel of the Year", Ms. Rosita May for "Minister's Award" and finally, the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" went to Ms. Elvira Staine of Elvis Kitchen is San Pedro .

In all, the south took home 5 awards, three of them going to the Placencia Peninsula.

Congratulations to all the winners of the night, especially the Placencia Tourism Center, Eworth Garbutt and Lola's Arts. This was definitely a night dedicated to the hard work of many and it's nice to know that the winners in Placencia were well recognized!

Contact: Elysia Dial, Placencia Tourism Center, 501-523-4045 or placencia@btl.net

“It makes me very proud to know that the Placencia Tourism Center has been recognized by our industry partners for this award. Having been a part of the Center for almost nine years I have seen how it has grown and benefited our visitors as well as our community. I have also seen how the Center has benefited from the visitors and our community. A symbiotic relationship for sure.

It has taken the support and dedication of many people to get the Center to where we are today.

We would like to thank the entire Placencia BTIA membership who always gives generously of their time and in kind whenever we have fundraisers or marketing initiatives. Several past and present board members including David Vernon, who has been on the board in one position or another for more than 10 years and is always willing to throw in 100% at any turn - Wende Bryan, who held the chairpersonship for many years and was instrumental in the establishment of the Center – Beverly Cabral, our present chairperson who gives so much of her time without a second thought, Gillian Eyles Zabaneh, also on the present board who brings fresh new ideas to the board and is excited and driven towards their implementation, Wendy Lemus – who is always ready for anything we throw her way, and the many other board members we have had the privilege to work with.

Our peninsula community for supporting different PTC programs and projects and for thinking enough of our work to consider us the place that is “In The Know.” Our families for being supportive of our work and understanding the often long hours that are required. Our friends for always being ready to give their time at events like Placencia Lobsterfest and Mistletoe Ball. The BTB for holding this wonderful event that recognizes so many within the industry as well as for their constant support.

The staff: Felisha Brown who works full time and attends 6th form at night, Lloydia Westby- Cabellero who is new to the team but already I can not imagine what we would do without her and past employee James Cleve Westby who worked with the Center for more than five years and was the definition of “Irreplaceable” – these people have help make the center what it is today.

And of course everyone who thought enough of the PTC’s efforts to nominate us for this very prestigious award. I know I have repeated one word over and over – Support – without it the Placencia Tourism Center would not be here today.

Again thank you for this award.”