Congratulations to Splash Dive Center, Placencia!!

[chillyinCanada]

Winner of the 2013 Belize Tourism Board's national award for Tour Operator of the Year! Congratulations to Patty and Ralph and the Splash team.

 

[Downing]

Well deserved.

Patty and Ralph really do a great job of providing service to their customers and always follow up to make sure that expectations were not only met but exceeded. I've used them not only for diving but for tours like Monkey River and Xunantunich as well as places to stay like the former Dianni's Guest House now Sea Glass Inn.

Wonderful people. "Come as customers, leave as friends."

Congrats to Splash!

 

[peterbj7]

I'll be there next week. Can't wait!

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Hi Chilly and thanks for noticing!!!!! Modesty prevented us from announcing it on ScubaBoard. We feel like we are on a roll this week winning Tour Operator Of The Year which we have worked day and night to achieve plus earlier in the week got a Certificate of Excellence from PADI! You are going to have to come and dive with us!
Downing, as always, an endorsement from you is special.
Peter, we can hardly wait to show you our facilities, crew and corp d'esprit!
Regards
Ralph

---------- Post added May 20th, 2013 at 07:15 PM ----------

I should have mentioned - Placencia cleaned up at the BTB Annual Awards winning 7 out of 9. Read on:

• Destination of the Year: Placencia- A destination that is proactive in its marketing initiatives and product enhancement. It also seeks to develop local tourism businesses for the development of the destination. The Destination of the Year encourages the local community's participation, promotes sustainability, executes events that highlight local culture and promotes tourist attractions.

• Hotel of the Year: San Ignacio Resort Hotel- A licensed hotel where service exceeds excellence; where positive attitude and attentiveness of staff are the norm. The hotel of the year offers exceptional value for money and is equipped with modern facilities and amenities. Its ambience gives visitors an authentic Belize 'feel'. This hotel has, over the years, demonstrated its willingness to adapt to the demands of its patrons, yet remain true to its core values. One of its hallmarks is the adoption of green initiatives.

• Small Hotel of the Year: Singing Sands Inn- Alicensed small hotel that captures the essence of warmth and authenticity through its accommodations. This property displays commitment to excellence in customer service, operational standards and is keen on improving and developing its products and services, including capacity building. Importantly, for this small hotel of the year, eco-consciousness and sustainability are equally important to guests' experience.

• Frontline Person of the Year: Natalie Ranguy of Chabil Mar Villas- A frontline employee who has great interpersonal skills, welcomes guests with outstanding Belizean hospitality, is knowledgeable about Belize, and goes above and beyond the everyday duties and responsibilities to ensure that guests' needs are fulfilled. This individual makes an impressive first and last impression of her work place.
• Tour Guide of the Year: Jerome Williams of Huracan Diving- A licensed tour guide who is knowledgeable about Belize, including, but not limited to, the history, natural attractions and local tours. This guide has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a positive attitude, and great planning and leadership abilities. The tour guide ensures that guests have an unforgettable experience without compromising safety and security.
• Tour Operator of the Year: Splash Dive Center- A licensed tour operator that excels in customer service, creativity, and personalization, while offering a variety of tours. This tour operator sets the bar for marketing initiatives, meeting the standards of safety and security, equipment quality, cleanliness and reliability. This awardee ensures that visitors have a memorable and enriching experience, therefore, leaving guests with a great lasting impression of Belize.
• Hospitality Award: Placencia Tourism Center- A tourism ancillary organization that offers exceptional customer service, manages the business seamlessly, is sensitive to the needs of staff, flexible in adapting to change and accommodating to the industry's needs. Regardless of the availability of resources, this entity is always looking for innovative ways to promote Belize through its hospitality services.

• Major Festival & Event: Placencia Lobster Fest- A hallmark festival/event that promotes income generating activities, stimulates local and international travel, attracts national & international media coverage, and positively promotes the destination.

• Restaurant of the Year: Maya Beach Bistro- A restaurant that offers more than just really good food, but an overall dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance, coupled with a menu of creative concoctions and excellent customer service, creates its own distinctive character. The use of local products and importance of food safety and hygiene, sell the Belize brand from appetizer to dessert.

 

[Downing]

I'm guessing the Belize Tourism Board doesn't have the following awards, but if they did I would nominate the following:

Gelato Shop of the Year - Tutti Frutti, Placencia. Run by a couple of Italian ex-pats, these people would clean up if they franchised the place to the United States.

Sandwich/Smoothie Shop of the Year - The Shak, Placencia. Great sandwiches, even better smoothies. And last year. at least, you could sit and watch the progress on the new pier.

Coffee Shop of the Year - Above Grounds, Placencia. The only good coffee to be had in the entire country, as far as I know. Perched in a tree house, the owner's a very pleasant Scotsman by way of Canada and the Bahamas.

Just so it's not a clean sweep for Placencia:

Coolest Village Mostly Untouched by Tourists - Punta Gorda. At the southern edge of the Toledo District, the poorest district in Belize (and that's saying something), PG gives off a great vibe. Around 5,000 people, it's big enough to have all the amenities like an open air market, a town square and even a dive center but it's small and isolated enough to feel like you're truly immersed into a Central American country. If you head due north, you're very quickly into deep jungle, although there's a paved highway to Guatamala being built that may change that.

 

[Briteri]

Way to go! I'll be in Placencia June 25-28th... so I am looking forward to checking out the companies listed.