We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from one of Oceanic Society’s long-term partners in Belize.
Turneffe Flats was recently awarded the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the highest honor presented at the CTO’s annual Sustainable Tourism Conference, held this year in San Pedro, Belize.
Earning the CTO’s top honor is no small feat. Judges look for properties that make sustainability a lived practice rather than a marketing message, demonstrating it through rigorous environmental management and measurable, real-world impact.
Turneffe Flats met that bar and then some, impressing judges with the depth and consistency of its conservation practices built over four decades of stewardship on one of the Caribbean’s most ecologically significant marine environments.
For owner Craig Hayes, the recognition reflects principles that have guided the lodge for over 40 years. “These aren’t side projects for us,” he said upon accepting the award. “They are our core business principles.”
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A Shared History in Belize
Oceanic Society’s connection to Turneffe Atoll runs deep. For more than 15 years, we operated our own field station on Blackbird Caye in Turneffe Atoll, just a short distance from Turneffe Flats. In 2020, our land was put under permanent protection by the Turneffe Atoll Trust, a land trust established by Turneffe Flats owner Craig Hayes that is supported by and closely connected to Turneffe Flats.
And when we launched our Belize Snorkeling & Coral Reef Ecology expedition in 2015, we chose Turneffe Flats as our home base precisely because their values mirror our own — that exceptional travel experiences and genuine conservation impact aren’t a tradeoff, they’re inseparable.
Oceanic Society Co-CEO and President Roderic Mast serves on the board of the Turneffe Atoll Trust, reflecting our continued commitment to the long-term protection of this irreplaceable ecosystem.
“This award speaks to what’s possible when the metrics of success for both tourism and nature conservation are valued equally. Turneffe Flats has been living proof of those shared goals for decades, and their work continues to inspire how we think about responsible travel at Oceanic Society.” – Roderic Mast
Turneffe Flats works hand-in-hand with the Trust, and together they have contributed more than BZ$14 million to the conservation of Belize’s coastal marine environment.
Why This Award Matters
The CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Awards, established in 2000, honor individuals and organizations driving real change through environmental stewardship, community empowerment, and climate resilience.
Turneffe Flats receiving the program’s top prize is a testament to what conservation-centered tourism can look like at its best, where world-class snorkeling and diving experiences are inseparable from, not at odds with, protecting the ecosystems that make them possible.
Oceanic Society congratulates Craig Hayes and the entire Turneffe Flats team on this well-deserved recognition. Their work is a model for how tourism and conservation can reinforce each other and acts as an inspiration for our own mission of protecting the ocean through responsible travel.
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