The Belize Collection: The Power of Travel
At The Belize Collection, we believe in cultural authenticity, community empowerment and sustainability. If we’re not giving back, we miss our aim. From our inception, that commitment has remained our mandate.
It all started in 2015…
When David Hayles and Ian Lizarraga took on the hotel group Viva Belize, it included The Lodge at Jaguar Reef, Almond Beach Resort, The Colonial Inn, all located side by side in Hopkins, and The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant along the Hummingbird Highway.
The odd name of Viva Belize never sat right with us. It sounded like a travel brochure cliché, not a promise of local charm. Paired with plastic tables and orange walls at Jaguar Reef’s restaurant, it risked turning lush, beautiful Belize into a rendition of overdeveloped resorts found beyond our borders.
However, what the hotel group takeover did provide was a blank canvas to be innovators in creating a truly amazing Belize experience for you, the traveler, while also establishing our role as mentors to Belizeans in the tourism industry and giving back to the communities around us.
One of the many pivotal moves in the transformation was rebranding to a name that reflects what you experience when staying with us — a collection of extraordinary moments. Hence, The Belize Collection.
What sets us apart in the Belize travel industry…
Across our boutique resorts, residences and restaurants, more than 400 Belizeans continue to raise the bar for hospitality in Belize.
From entry-level to senior management, every position is held by local talent, mostly attracted from surrounding communities. Competitive pay and strong opportunities have fostered an exceptionally high retention rate, underscoring the culture we’ve built.
To nurture this talent, we have our own training facilities, offering programs that support newcomers to the industry and advance our team’s professional development.
We also believe that growth comes from exposure. For example, each year, our resorts host a bartending competition that inspires inventive blends. Several of our bartenders have since gone on to represent Belize in international contests.
Similarly, we elevate our culinary offerings by sending our chefs to Mexico City and other culinary hubs to gain exposure to diverse techniques. These experiences broaden their perspective as they return with new skills and inspiration that transform our resort kitchens.
Additionally, we take immense pride that The Belize Collection is setting the standard for female empowerment. Over half of our senior management team are incredible women.
This dynamic leadership doesn’t just create empowering workspaces but generates a ripple effect throughout our communities. When locals see one of their own become a main breadwinner, it transforms perspectives and inspires other women to realize what’s possible.
Always pushing forward our Belize story…
As a leading hospitality company, one of our mandates has always been to be a fierce Belizean storyteller for both local and global travelers. And what better way to explore a culture than through food?
So, we set out to overcome that curious paradox of travel: visitors always want to gather where the locals are, because food is what brings everyone together.
To tell that story authentically, we returned to recipes and drinks passed down from our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, reimagining them for a modern-day interpretation, yet reflective of our tropical country and its rich traditions.
One such dish is Coconut Husk–Smoked Pork Belly. And a drink that stirs nostalgic childhood memories like the Sugar Corn Colada, which for many of us was the staple ice cream when growing up.
But our thrive doesn’t stop here…
To awaken every sense, we’ve gone beyond accommodations, food, and drinks. Our storytelling carries into the arts and music, and from there, deeper into our ethos behind your stay.