So it’s been one of those days where no amount of espresso will keep my mind focused! The hours keep ticking by and my to-do list keeps growing.  Which leads me to a task I always consider one of the easier on my schedule, expanding and updating the playlists for the restaurant and bar.  Seems like a fun job, something fairly straightforward and achievable irrespective of how my mushed my head is, right?  Maybe not… 

When we created La Ceiba Restaurant, the ethos was very much to represent the best of local and regional styles with an international flair.  Chef Kuylen reaches the gastro heights with his understanding of local favorites, doubled with his San Fran experience.  Polo brings the noise with his cocktails, and I’m reasonably happy with our wine offering (which I can’t blame on anyone else!).  We’ll come back another time to discuss design, service etc, but the part of the experience that’s often under-appreciated and overlooked is that of the music.  I chose to go with regional music of all kinds, as well as a few from further afield that we all personally enjoy.  I wanted the music to be chilled-out and loungy, have a latin edge, and wanted stayed away from lyrics (especially English) so as not to take away from the aesthetic of the culinary experience.  In general I opted for more light-hearted, upbeat music to make the experience more enjoyable and carefree.  Think vacations, chilling, summertime, food, cockails, friends and fun! 

Achieving this however is a whole ‘nother thing entirely!  Where to start?  It’s been a long road, a lot of trying and testing and listening and changing.  And it’s ever-evolving.  I cannot wait for our upcoming partnership with the ever-so-cool Stonetree Records, but in the meantime will have to settle for foraging through the internet wilderness, searching for the sweet taste of latin lounge music.  Wish me luck!

In keeping with its mission of promoting tourism development in Belize, Ka’ana Boutique Resort was pleased to make a contribution in the education sector by awarding a full scholarship to Galen University.

Following a rigorous three-part application process, three finalists were selected to enter the final round. This final testing phase consisted of a series of challenges over a 24-hour period at Ka’ana Boutique Resort. The challenges ranged from management skills, food and beverage preparation, to academic knowledge. These were designed to test the finalists’ ability to maintain a high standard of service under demanding conditions, to make good judgment calls under pressure, and to be creative and spontaneous, which are just some of the skills it takes to succeed in the hospitality business.

The finalists were evaluated on a point system with a total possible score of 400 points. With only two and a half points separating the top two competitors, Flora Pereira was awarded the Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management scholarship. All three ladies did an exceptional job throughout the course of this challenging experience and we can expect that they will be making big strides in Belize’s tourism industry.

The full scholarship, a value of BZ$16,760.00, will cover tuition, fees, and books over a two year period. Flora Pereira will be required to maintain a high level of academic standard while enrolled in the Bachelor’s programme as well as complete an internship at Ka’ana Boutique Resort during the two years. This scholarship will enable Flora to be the first of her family to pursue a graduate degree.

“It is a fundamental principle of Ka’ana’s mission statement to assist in and dedicate time and resources to outreach programs and to foster mutual respect for all those “touched” by the Ka’ana brand while working for the greater good of tourism development in Belize”.