25 Years of Service and Sustainability with Hamanasi Resort

This past weekend, Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort hit a major milestone, celebrating twenty-five incredible years in the hospitality industry. Nestled in the tranquil Hopkins Village, Hamanasi has become a go-to destination for travelers looking for luxury with a purpose. From showcasing Belize’s breathtaking beauty to making sustainability a top priority, this resort has built a reputation that keeps guests coming back year after year. So, what’s the secret behind their success? Tonight, we take you inside the celebration and explore how Hamanasi has grown over the years. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Imagine this, twenty-five years ago, Dana and Dave Krauskopf were just two adventurers with a dream to create a place where people who love travel and nature could truly unwind. Fast forward to today, and that dream is a reality. They’re now the proud owners of Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort in Hopkins, a quiet destination that’s turning dreams into unforgettable experiences.

 

Dana Krauskopf, Owner, Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort

“ It’s been a tremendous journey. So our background is not in hospitality, and so it was a very steep learning curve, not only for us. But at that time, Hopkins was much smaller and we all grew up together and that was what really bonded us as a team. So over the years we slowly added more rooms added a second story to this building added more of our product tours and then we kept improving the overall look and feel of the property.”

 

Cradled by the Maya Mountains on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, Hamanasi Resort combines adventure and relaxation. Guests have thirty unique rooms to choose from, whether you’re dreaming of waking up to a stunning beachfront view or escaping to a cozy treehouse tucked deep in the coastal forest. And the adventures are endless. From diving and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters to exploring ancient Mayan archaeological sites, every day promises something new and unforgettable.

 

Launce Roberts, General Manager, Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort

“The program we have is designed to give our. guests the vacation of a lifetime. So, an authentic, memorable experience, something that they’re going to remember for a long time. And then just to feed into that, a lot of our guests, we have a thirty percent repeat guest ratio. So a lot of guests that come back, and that’s quite a high ratio which we’re quite proud of. So we know we’re hitting the mark somewhere.”

 

Hamanasi takes its place among the lush foliage of the village. Owners Dana and Dave Krauskopf are proud champions of sustainability. They built the resort around the existing flora and have spent the past two decades replanting in the community. For Dave, the best part of running Hamanasi is the commitment to preserving Belize’s natural beauty. That dedication, he says, is what truly makes this work meaningful.

 

Dave Krauskopf, Owner, Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort

“I think you could say it’s part of my favorite part from twenty-five years ago, but. I experienced it again twenty-five -years later and said the natural beauty and condition of the oceans this part of Belize is incredibly similar and it hasn’t been destroyed. It could still catch fish and see, we saw manatee. And of course from our home base here and very unique in that we kept the nature here where the hotel is.”

 

Hamanasi caters to all types of visitors, from young newlyweds to retired couples. Amaris Wakefield has been with the company for over nine years. According to her, guests consistently rave about the resort’s exceptional service.

 

Amaris Wakefield, Guest Services Manager

“Hopkins Belize, were very welcoming, laid back. We love people, love to interact, and a lot of our guests don’t get to experience that as much back home. So the fact that a simple thing as us remembering their names or that it’s their birthday or maybe it’s their honeymoon or something like that wows them.”

 

The resort takes pride in its strong employee retention, with roughly one in five team members having been part of the Hamanasi family for over a decade. We asked a few of them what keeps them on board for so long.

 

Danielle Haylock, Human Resource Manager

“The programs that we offer definitely we teach them a lot. So going home, you take your sustainability, the practices that you receive here. Training. We spend a lot on training our staff and we work as families, so when our guests come, they know us, they remember us. Even if you’re back of house, you’re known. It’s just the love that we have and the values that we uphold and we definitely want our employees to be happy, healthy, skilled, and proud employees.”

 

Abby Lozano, Restaurant Supervisor

“I’m at home because I’m originally from here and then it’s just stable. It’s nice. Everybody’s friendly. And then they’re very community based as well.”

 

Hamanasi isn’t slowing down. In fact, they’re gearing up for an even greener future, with plans to roll out a grey water recycling system and expand their solar plant. And this is only the start of an even bigger journey. As the resort celebrates twenty-five years of excellence, the team is already dreaming big, committed to another quarter-century of unforgettable experiences and world-class sustainability. Britney Gordon for News Five.