Casa Ceibo Earns First Five Star Green Award in South America

BAHIA DE CARAQUEZ, Ecuador, July 1, 2010 - Applying for the American Academy of Hospitality Services' (AAHS) Five
Star Green Award is a nail-biting, exciting experience. Ever since it became
a new category in 2006, the highly coveted recognition has symbolized
industry excellence in its truest form. And this year, it's an honor bestowed
to Casa Ceibo Boutique Hotel & Spa (www.casaceibo.com) in Ecuador's
only "eco-city," Bahia de Caraquez.

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The first recipient of the Five Star Green Award in all of South America,
Casa Ceibo sets a new standard for hospitality in this region of the world.
According to Karen Dixon, International General Manager of AAHS, the
prestigious recognition justly rewards the pioneering efforts of Casa Ceibo's
founders, Charles Van Diver, a Destin, Florida developer, and Daniel Jacome,
Galapagos guide and drummer for Ecuador's top rock band, Tercer Mundo. The
Five Star Green Award involves an intensive application and review process,
and AAHS has received many applicants this year.

"It's extremely impressive for Casa Ceibo to be the year's first award
recipient, as well as the first Five Star Green Award winner in South
America," Dixon says. "There's no doubt that we're acknowledging a deserving
establishment. Casa Ceibo delivers an exceptionally luxurious experience, yet
many aspects of the property, its services and people fulfill a mission of
environmental, cultural and social consciousness that's downright
extraordinary."

Casa Ceibo "green appeal" shines through in many ways, from its use of
local artisans and craftsmen to build the breathtaking property to its
efforts to reforest the threatened mangroves, which softly buffer the hotel
from the waves of the bay. The owners have taken great care to bolster the
native economy by choosing Ecuadorian vendors and sourcing staff mostly from
Bahia. Besides developing its own tour programs, Casa Ceibo partners with
area guides and regional operations. And it's helping support a clean-water
program for a nearby community.

"Casa Ceibo is much more than an exquisite hotel, spa and dining
destination," Van Diver says. "We're committed to being 'good citizens' in
this region. Receiving the Five Star Green Award is a thrill, no doubt, but
our efforts to do the right things won't end with this recognition.
Progressive business is process, and we're committed to this mindset as our
mission."

Of note, Casa Ceibo is the founding member in Ecuador for the Chaine de
Rotisseurs(TM) (www.chaineus.org), an elite, international gastronomic
society. Additionally, Casa Ceibo is certified by Smart Voyager
(www.ccd.org.ec ), an Ecuadorian program that gives its green seal of
approval to hotels for meeting strict conservation and sustainability
guidelines. Casa Ceibo is also a Conde Nast Johansens Recommended Hotel
(www.johansens.com/ecuador).

For more information, visit: www.casaceibo.com.

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

A picture accompanying this release is available from the European
Pressphoto Agency (EPA) at www.epa-photos.com.

Jose Luis Benitez Flores, General Manager of Casa Ceibo, 593-9-1779031 (cell, U.S. to Ecuador), 593-52-399-399 (Ecuador), gm at casaceibo.com; or Talbot Wilson of Talbot Wilson & Associates. Inc., +1-850-217-7138, talbot at talbotwilson.com