BTIA celebrated its 25th birthday on April 26th with a press conference, tourism seminar and cocktail. The press conference in its welcome address took a look back at BTIA all those years ago and recognized its founding members and initial tourism contributors to the formation of the organization. Ms. Jeanie Shaw, daughter of BTIAs first president and matriarch of tourism for Belize Jean Shaw delivered a reflection on her mother's contribution to tourism, BTIA and the development of Belize. A video clipping of the 2nd BTIA Annual General Meeting President's address was aired for those present. The first Board Members and District Chapter Representatives were presented via the same historic video clipping.

BTIA as well presented its new website www.btia.org,
Membership Orientation Interactive CD and Board Orientation Interactive CD. The day's seminar was delivered by Crist Inman and surveyed the issue of "Developing Core Values for Belize's Tourism Industry".

While the seminar had to be abbreviated due to flight changes for the guest speaker, the presentation gave insight into the value and purpose of formulating core values for an industry. Inman informed that the competition and pull to develop like other destinations in North America with high rises and high density large scale projects, Belize needed to resist that pull and such resistance could only be grounded in the determination of core values.

Inman emphasized that as Belize pursues its Tourism Master Plan, the determination of core values should form the initial steps of that process so that comprehensive tourism planning rests of a strong foundation.

President for BTIA delivered her thank you with a highly reflective and logical presentation looking at BTIA now and tourism 25 years after with sound recommendations for moving forward. She informed that "We are 25 years old now, the time for partying is over and we must get serious and take ourselves seriously." She informed that as we recover from the most challenging international and national economic times, we need to be prudent in planning, savvy in investment and ground our industry in sustainability, responsibility and desire to provide quality high value service and present high value employment for Belizeans.

The day event was followed by a cocktail at the ITVET Courtyard. At the cocktail, BTIA was presented with a cheque of $20,000 sponsorship from the Belize Bank Ltd. BTIA expressed its gratitude and that the funds donated will go a long way in furthering the work of the organization. Guest of honor and speaker at the Anniversary Cocktail was newly appointed BTB Director Seleni Matus.

BTIA recognizes key sponsors like NICH and ICA for the cultural component of the cocktail, donors like Atlantic Bank, Premiums Wines and Spirits, Belize Telemedia Ltd, Radisson Fort George, Travelers Liquors, Belize Brewing Company Ltd, Idealabs Studies, BRC Printing, Genesis Arts.