You Better Belize It !!! (Part 4)

by Uncle Hans

.....this is our friend Linda Penland, who with her husband Herm, built Coral Bay, then Belizean Shores (and now several other resorts). They live at Coral Bay in a "double" suite of their own design and they live right next door to us. She and Wendy are behind their beautiful mahogany bar. She manages Coral Bay and we get a check from her each April, just in time to pay our taxes. Business has been good, occupancy is 65%. She could charge more for the condos, it costs about $140 per night in high season, but feels that offering a quality product for a reasonable price will bring repeat business. It is their "Iowa" background philosophy and it works.......

.....this is Herm Penland. He grew up in Des Moines area. He is a school teacher. He and Linda have traveled the world, teaching in Bolivia and Pakistan. They came here about 20 years ago to "retire" They now own the most successful and reputable realty, Southwind properties, on the island. Then they started to dabble in condos. We fell into great luck when we met them.........

.....Why is this woman smiling? The one on the left is Selena, local girl turned accountant for Herm. She has just cut a check for the other one for her proceeds for the year at Belizean Shores (again, just in time for April 15). Belizean Shores is new and just "coming into it's own". The occupancy goes up every year and so does the check. Smiling!...

.....this is an old friend, Shaggy, we have know for several years. Part of the allure for us is to get to know the people and see them there twice a year. We are from a small town and need to feel we "belong" to a community like at home. This is Fido's, the biggest nightclub on the island and Shaggy is in management.....