The Businesses Powering Belize’s Tourism Industry

Belize’s tourism industry may revolve around hotels, beaches and adventure, but it takes an entire network of businesses to keep the visitor experience running. Today, the Belize Hotel Association brought many of those suppliers together for its third annual Allied Trade Show, showcasing everything from financing and furniture to cleaning products, beverages and bedding. Shane Williams takes us behind the scenes.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Guests may only see the finished product: a clean room, a stocked bar and a comfortable bed. But behind every successful hotel is a long list of businesses supplying the products and services that keep it running. The Belize Hotel Association’s Allied Trade Show puts those businesses center stage.

 

Naomi Martinez-Ashby, General Manager, Belize Hotel Association
“Whether it be tour services, dive services, insurance, banks, shipping, Tropic Air, beverages. That’s what you’re seeing here today being exhibited to our tourism industry stakeholders.”

 

Shane Williams

“So the idea is we have everything here to start and operate a resort?”

 

Naomi Martinez-Ashby

“Correct. So if you’re looking for pens to operate your front desk, if you’re looking for systems that manage your employees, that’s here today. If you’re looking for linen for your bedrooms, for your pool, that’s here today as well.”

 

Now in its third year, the event connects hotel operators with suppliers in one space, helping them compare products, form partnerships and find new ways to grow. But before an owner can build, furnish or stock a hotel, that business needs financing.

 

Cicelly Kelly, Supervisor, Cash Management Unit, Atlantic Bank
“We do have our small businesses that we are helping as well. Many of the merchants here are actually customers of Atlantic Bank and we have offered our MSME products. We do have our credit cards, we have debit cards that are able to facilitate them to make payments as well for the services that they do.”

 

Once the money is in place, the focus shifts to building a space that can withstand constant use while still making a strong first impression. Design Depot says hotel furniture and finishes must provide long-term value because replacing them every few years can quickly become expensive.

 

Wendy Reyes, Sales Representative, Design Depot
“For these big investments, you can’t afford to be changing every six months, every year or every two years. So you need something that’s going to get your money’s worth and you won’t have to worry about it for the next minimum five years. That’s what Design Depot gives in their brands. We also offer the services behind them. With Design Depot, the service doesn’t end right at the cashier. If the project lasts two years, Design Depot is with you for the two years and even after, if you have any issue or need replacement.”

 

But attractive décor alone will not keep guests coming back. Cleanliness can shape a visitor’s opinion from the moment that person enters the room, and Green Care Products says hotels can handle most cleaning jobs with a single concentrated product.

 

Carlton Usher, Sales Manager, Green Care Products
“We have a set of cleaning products, both multipurpose and ready-to-use products, which is Green Clean. All these products are concentrated. It’s multipurpose and it’s like one litre and you can make four litres out of it after being diluted. It won’t change the way how you clean, but you can do ninety-eight percent of your household cleaning with one product. All of your cleaning needs in one bottle, Green Clean.”

 

The visitor experience also creates an opportunity to showcase Belizean-made products. Bowen and Bowen says many travelers specifically ask for local beverages, giving hotels another way to add a taste of Belize to their stay.

 

Suzy Reyes, Spirits Coordinator, Bowen and Bowen
“Most of the people that are visiting want local stuff. So all the different hotels, they are making sure that they have our spirits on board. Our rums aren’t just made from anything imported. It’s all local. Everything, everything is natural.”

 

And after the tours, food and drinks, every guest eventually needs one essential thing: a good night’s sleep.

 

Anthony Abou-Nehra, Manager, Belize Foams
“A great night’s rest and a refreshing morning when you wake up.”

 

For Belize Foams, comfort is not just another hotel feature. It can determine whether visitors wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy another day of their vacation.

 

Anthony Abou -Nehra
“We supply the best mattresses, foam and hotel supplies here in the country. We supply roughly seventy-five percent of the hotels here in Belize with premier bedding, premier hotel supplies and a lifetime warranty on the best mattresses here in Belize.”

 

The trade show makes one thing clear: Belize’s tourism product extends far beyond the hotel lobby. From the bank that finances the investment to the supplier providing the bed, each business plays a part in the experience visitors take home. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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