February 2017 |Business View Caribbean

48 49 Chabil Mar Resort Belize mind– that it would be an all-villa resort, as opposed to a hotel.And the property was selected because of its proximity to the Village of Placencia, at the end of the peninsula.” Chabil Mar has 19 luxury vil- las and one honeymoon suite; all have personal verandas, and all are outfitted with Belizean hard- wood cabinetry, granite counter tops, marble tiling, and fine linens and bedding. Original art and local artifacts complement the villas’ more modern conveniences, such as air conditioning and wireless inter- AT A GLANCE CHABIL MAR RESORT WHAT: A guest-exclusive, luxury, boutique resort WHERE: Placencia Peninsula, Belize WEBSITE: www.chabilmarvillas.com net. The entire Chabil Mar property sits amidst lush tropical gardens and displays with imported plants and flowers from all over Belize that were brought in by the resort’s landscapers and often transplanted in their native soils. Chabil Mar began with ten employees and today has 45. “As our inventory grew and occupancy became greater and greater, we added staff in order to cover the essential needs of high-end tourists,” says France. “We had to expand all the food and beverage oper- ations immensely, as well as the front desk and con- cierge. And, of course, the grounds are something that we had to maintain at a very high level.We expanded the pier so that we could provide lounges for people