Belize City, Belize – May 29, 2012, 2012 – Belize played host to the 26^th Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (CARAIFA) Annual Sales Congress held May 20^th – 24^th. Over 100 delegates from around the Caribbean descended upon Belize for the event which was organized by the Belize Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (BELAIFA) and held at the Coco Beach Resort in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.

Speakers at the Congress included Consuelo Kickbusch, founder of Educational Achievement Services (EAS) Inc., Roy Suarez who speaks on the MyBag, MyHome: Homeless by Choice Tour, Pamela Perkins, co-founder of Human Communications Institute LLC and Bert Oliva who is the CEO/Founder of B.O.W.A International. “I gained tools to assist me in motivating and inspiring my staff through their daily challenges in the workplace. The speakers were exceptionally motivating during this week’s sessions,” said Karen Pike, Director of Information Management Systems at the BTB.

While in San Pedro, these international highly acclaimed motivational speakers also addressed an audience of students in the opening ceremony of this year’s Youth Rally.  The Rally – which was a joint effort between Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), Restore Belize and BELAIFA – was held at the San Pedro High School Auditorium. Later that day, a second session was held at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall, Belize City. In all, over a thousand students were inspired by these special speakers in whose stories of their childhood obstacles played important roles in their achieving great success in their lives today. The speakers talked about their personal experiences of abuse and abandonment, homelessness and living with multiple foster families.

The Youth Rally held in San Pedro was used as a platform to honor three students with the “kindest kid award”.  This award is given by the ‘Be Kind Belize’ Program, which promotes acts of kindness and good deeds done in the community by students.  Recipients of the award were Mariano Calderon of Island Academy, Faith Azueta from San Pedro Roman Catholic School and Naomi King from Island Academy. Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism and Culture was asked to present all of the awards. Before honoring each student, Minister Heredia gave a speech acknowledging the importance of the people of Belize in tourism. He said, “When a tourist is asked what they loved most about Belize, it is usually answered with an accompanying smile, ‘the kindness and warmth felt while in Belize’. This program, ‘Be Kind Belize’, brings to the forefront what we have always known about Belizeans,” Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. said.

About the Belize Tourism Board

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism.  The BTB works in conjunction with members of the private sector – including the Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association – and is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner.  As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers.  Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country’s unique attractions to travelers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets.

The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instill high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences.  For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.

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