The Royal Table
It has been over ten years since I wrote about buying an island in Belize. In that article, I described the process of acquiring and renovating what would become Royal Belize. A decade later I can now fully articulate the motive for going down this crazy path in the first place. It is all about friendship.
Royal Belize is a place to bring people together and let them spend a few days getting to know one another while being pampered on a luxury private island. It is pure magic. I’m not terribly careful about putting together groups based on who I think will click with whom. I just assume that if I love you, then everyone else will love you too. It usually works and lifelong connections are formed.
For first-timers, the questions come fast and furious, and they are typically all wrong: “What are the rooms like? What will we do all day? Where do we eat? Do I need to bring _______ (insert ridiculous item here)?” This is an all-inclusive, luxury experience. My advice is always to just roll with it. Bring a bathing suit and a pair of shorts, and allow yourself to be surprised.
The island is beautiful, and the rooms are fantastic. We now have a great new pool. There is also SCUBA diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, island hopping, lobster and conch hunting, hammock napping, and laying around in the sun with a tropical cocktail in hand. The team that works on the island makes the Royal Belize experience unique. The dozen members of the service staff revel in old-fashioned hospitality. The moment you start to think you might want a pina colada, it suddenly appears in your hand. They really are that good.
However, the real magic at the heart of the island is the big table in the Grand Palapa. This is where all the exquisite, chef-prepared meals are served, and permanent bonds are formed. The table forces a reset and a rethinking about the special meaning of mealtime when we used to listen to each other. With no cell phones to interfere, the conversation at the big table often extends well beyond when the dessert dishes have been cleared.
When we had the big table built, I didn’t understand what we were creating. I thought it was a beautiful piece of functional furniture. What we got was something with mystical qualities that accelerates the development of long-lasting relationships. I love this place, and I love that table.
