In a celebratory award ceremony held on September 25, 2026, two Belizean families walked away with the grand prizes of Belize Bank’s annual three-month Mastercard Priceless Experience promotion: all-expenses-paid dream international vacations tailored to their winning draws.
The promotion, which has become a beloved annual tradition for the bank, offered every credit card holder who spent at least $1,000 on card transactions during the campaign period an entry into the draw for two premium getaways: a family trip to Orlando, Florida centered around a visit to Disney World Parks, and a multi-generational family escape to New York City.
Executive Chairman Filippo Alario, who personally presented the prizes to the two winning households, explained that experiential rewards like these hold far more lasting value than generic monetary incentives. “Most people cannot recall where they spent their discretionary money just a week ago, but I still vividly remember a family vacation I took with my children 25 years ago,” Alario shared during the ceremony. “That is the magic of these rewards – they create memories that last a lifetime, not just temporary transactions. This has become a core part of how we connect with our customers, and last year’s winner even took home a trip to attend the UEFA Champions League, one of the biggest sporting events in the world.”
The first grand prize, the Orlando adventure, went to Neri Monzon, a fisherman from Riversdale, Belize. Monzon said he was initially skeptical when he received the winning notification while out working. “I get random calls all the time, and you just can’t trust every good news that comes over the phone,” he explained. “I told the representative I was working, and I passed the call off to my wife to handle, and here we are now. Last year we took a trip to Miami for the holiday season, and my kids have been asking for another big trip ever since – I told them I didn’t think it would happen this year, and now this dream is coming true.”
Monzon’s two daughters, 12-year-old Briana and 9-year-old Helen, are the most excited members of the family, as this trip will mark their first ever visit to Disney World. Briana shared that she initially thought the win was a prank, even suspecting it was an AI-generated hoax after her mother teased her about the news. Once the win was officially confirmed, she said, she was overwhelmed with joy. Helen added that she has been looking forward to exploring the iconic theme park for years, and the first-time trip is everything she has imagined.
The second winner, Allen Mendez, will take his family on the all-expenses-paid trip to New York City, a trip that will also mark his first ever visit to the United States. Mendez, who works at the Belize Social Security board, said he was equally shocked by the notification. “When I saw a call from Belize Bank coming in, I immediately thought I had done something wrong with my account,” he recalled laughing. “I answered ready to figure out what the issue was, and they told me they were calling with good news – I still didn’t believe it when they said I’d won the New York trip. I had even forgotten I was entered into the promotion.”
A spokesperson for Belize Bank noted that the promotional campaign is designed to deliver extra tangible value to credit card customers while building stronger long-term relationships with the bank’s core consumer base. Alario added that the promotion far exceeded engagement expectations this year, and the bank’s credit card product remains one of its most popular offerings. Key perks that draw customers include ongoing travel rewards and complimentary American Airlines miles, making the card particularly popular among Belizeans who enjoy international travel.
This report was compiled by Britney Gordon for News Five, from the on-location coverage of the award ceremony.