Month: June 2017

Chabil Mar, a five-star luxury resort located in Placencia, Belize, has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor for the year 2017.

Since 2010, TripAdvisor has been awarding Certificates of Excellence to hospitality businesses that consistently deliver service above and beyond those of their peers. The Certificates of Excellence are determined on an annual basis by carefully assessing the honest and uncensored reviews of travelers who have frequented the establishment during the previous year.

The standards for determining Certificate of Excellence awards are:

• A minimum of 12 months of user reviews for the establishment;
• A pre-set minimum number of reviews; and
• A minimum user review rating of at least four (out of five).

Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor are entitled to post a window sticker announcing the designation and will receive an online badge on TripAdvisor’s website. Commercial relationships have no bearing on the determination of TripAdvisor, and the awarding of Certificates of Excellence is entirely based on user-generated reviews and feedback.

“We are both honored and delighted to have been awarded the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor for 2017,” said Larry France, marketing manager of Chabil Mar. “We consistently strive to deliver outstanding customer service to all of our guests, and we are very proud to read the reviews of satisfied guests who have shared their unbiased reviews on TripAdvisor.”

Chabil Mar is a luxury resort located on the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. The name of the resort in the local Maya dialect translates to “beautiful sea”, an apt description of the lovely Caribbean coastline where Chabil Mar is located. Chabil Mar is a perennial TripAdvisor favorite and has consistently garnered positive guest reviews thanks to its world-class customer service, beautiful architecture, and luxury vacation experiences. Chabil Mar has a number of slogans, including “Barefoot Luxury”, “Champagne Flutes and Bathing Suits,” and “Beauty by Belize, Luxury by Design.”

TripAdvisor is the world’s most popular travel website with over 315 million members. Founded in the year 2000, TripAdvisor was one of the first travel sites to feature user reviews and feedback in order to give travelers a better way to discover resorts, activities, and beautiful destinations. Today, TripAdvisor’s website has more than 500 million reviews of restaurants, resorts, and other travel-related businesses. TripAdvisor has an annual revenue of 1.5 billion dollars and employees more than 3,000 people around the world.

The Belize Fisheries Department (BFD) regulates the consumption and harvesting of lobster. According to the BFD, the 2017 lobster season will run from June 15, 2017 to February 14, 2018 and initial estimates are that this year’s harvest will be a profitable one.

According to Ramon Carcamo, a BFD official, lobster catches over the past five years have remained stable. According to Carcamo, the BFD is estimating that between 500,000 and 600,000 pounds of lobster tails will be harvested during this year’s lobster season, ensuring an ample supply of the tasty crustaceans both for local festivals as well as for export. Carcamo said that the BFD is estimating a net profit of $15 million for the 2017-2018 season.

The Caribbean Spiny Lobster (panulin argus), is a native animal fished in the waters of Belize. The spiny lobster thrives in the reefs and mangrove swamp environments of Belize, and are some of the top seafood species fished in the country. Also known as the West Indian langouste, the spiny lobster is a close cousin of the American lobster fished from colder waters found in the north of the United States and Canada.

“The BFD’s report about this year’s lobster season was warmly welcomed,” said Larry France, marketing manager of the Chabil Mar. “Lobster is one of the preferred foods of visitors and locals alike, and popular events like Lobsterfest in Placencia will be beneficial to the region In addition, it means we should have a plentiful supply for tourists through summer and well into the winter season. We await you in Belize!”

Lobsterfest is an annual three-day celebration of all things lobster. Held in Placencia, one of the top lobster fishing communities of Belize, Lobsterfest mixes innovative lobster recipes with lots of games, live music, and a fun beach party. Dozens of regional chefs compete during Lobsterfest to come up with the most savory and delicious dish featuring the world’s famous crustacean.

This year’s Lobsterfest will run from June 23-25, 2017, and is expected to draw record numbers of visitors. Originally a local affair featuring a single chef, Lobsterfest has grown to become one of Belize’s most popular and enduring traditions. Beyond the culinary treats on display, Lobsterfest will feature a drinking contest sponsored by Belikin Beer, a Mr. and Mrs. Physique contest, kayak races, fly fishing contests, and spicy hot wing eating contests amongst many other activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Chabil Mar is an award-winning resort located on the Placencia Peninsula just a short walk from all the Lobsterfest activities.