Born in Belize’s verdant Cayo District and spending his early childhood on the family farm, Bernie Matute forged a profound connection to his country and the land. The 10-year general manager of Blancaneaux Lodge, part of the Family Coppola Hideaways in Belize, is a dedicated cultural ambassador and environmental steward.
HOTELS: What do you do differently than other GMs?
Bernie Matute: Having regular, daily contact with our team and ensuring that their wellbeing is taken care of (is important). By doing this, I feel that we have been better able to attract members to our team and to encourage them to stay.
H: What is the industry ignoring at its peril?
BM: Its impact on the environment, specifically our direct and indirect impacts on our water resources. Also, boutique resorts are being impacted by short-term lodging service providers and serviced apartments.
H: What are you reading right now? What websites do you check regularly?
BM: I am concerned about our environment and believe that we can do more to better care for it, so I try to get my hands on environmental articles off the internet to share with my team. This helps ensure we don’t mistreat our water source or abuse our power supply. My hope is that this will impress our staff and by extension, that they will take this mentality into their communities. Eventually, we will have an entire country that understands the importance of protecting and conserving these resources.
H: Tell us about the work you do in local communities.
BM: Our team members come from the local communities and we conduct many community outreach [projects], including Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that provides school supplies to kids from these communities. The initiative allows our team and guests to equip more than 30 students with necessary tools for the school year. We also help educate younger minds in our national patrimony, including our flora and fauna… We also started a cross-training [program] for high school students and a vocational training institution that allows the high school students to
participate in hospitality training.
H: Where do you find inspiration outside your industry?
BM: I am serving as treasurer for a high school — this is my eighth year working with this institution. I also participate in other community activities, such as our annual cancer walk.
H: What’s one prediction you’re willing to make about your discipline in the coming year?
BM: That we will have more industry partners involved in reducing our daily environmental impact, so collectively we can make a difference in global warming.