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Harvest Caye guides take part in Aquila's Tour Guide Excellence program

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The guides are 'eager to learn and keen to ensure guests visiting Harvest Caye have excellent experiences while in Belize' (Photo: Claudine Pohl)
Professionals from Aquila's Center for Cruise Excellence are in Belize this week training more than 50 guides who will be working at Norwegian Cruise Line's new destination, Harvest Caye, and on the mainland.

'It's off to a great start,' said Aquila's Melanie Colpitts, adding that some of the guides are experienced, and some are brand new.

'But it's clear to see that they are all very eager to learn and keen to ensure guests visiting Harvest Caye have excellent experiences while in Belize,' Colpitts said. The Belizeans, she added, are 'warm, welcoming people.'

Aquila was hired by the Belize Tourism Board to conduct the Tour Guide Excellence training. Colpitts and Aquila's Claudine Pohl are leading the multi-day course near Harvest Caye at Placencia in southern Belize, with the guides coming from a 45-minute radius.

Aquila’s Tour Guide Excellence is an international certification program designed specifically for guides in the cruise industry. It teaches critical skills, from presentation skills to the logistics of conducting a tour to dealing with difficult situations and managing risk.

The program is endorsed by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.