Hosting an event in Belize City? Security and hurricane season planning go together.
Belize City is the largest city in Belize and the centre of the country’s maritime, fisheries, tourism, and offshore financial services sectors. The Radisson Fort George Hotel and Best Western Biltmore Plaza in the Fort George district are the principal venues for international business events, offering a manageable operating environment within a city that carries elevated gang-related crime in its southern districts. Belize’s English-speaking environment and its legal and financial services sector make it an active venue for offshore financial conferences and investment events.
The Belize City event security environment
The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to certain areas of Belize City, including the Southside residential districts, while noting that the Fort George area is manageable for international visitors. The US State Department classifies Belize at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), specifically noting crime in Belize City. Gang activity is the primary driver of serious crime. Hurricane season (May to November) adds a weather contingency planning requirement that is unique among this region’s event security considerations. Source: FCDO Belize travel advice (2026); US State Dept Belize Level 2 advisory (2026).
Planning events in Belize City
Venue selection for international events in Belize City centres on the Fort George hotel district. Licensed operators are engaged for security functions. Hurricane season events require integrated contingency planning for weather disruption. The 15km airport transfer from Goldson International requires pre-arranged vetted transport.
For the full Belize City security picture, see our Belize City city security briefing. Our event security service overview describes how these elements are coordinated.
What does event security in Belize City cover?
Venue Security Assessment
Pre-event assessment covering access control, vehicle arrival and departure points, perimeter management, and emergency exit capacity. Belize City's primary international event venues -- the Radisson Fort George Hotel and the Best Western Biltmore Plaza -- are located in the Fort George district and western Belize City, which are more manageable than the southern residential and commercial areas with elevated gang and crime activity. Site-specific review addresses current conditions, seasonal factors (hurricane season May to November), and venue generator and backup systems.
Licensed Event Security
Private security companies in Belize operate under licensing from the Commissioner of Police under the Private Security and Investigation Services (Control) Act, Cap. 138.01. Company registration and individual guard licensing are required. Verify licensing documentation before engaging any Belize City event security operator. Belize's security sector is smaller than its Central American neighbours, and operator quality varies.
VIP and Delegate Protection
Belize City draws maritime and fisheries sector executives, tourism investment delegates, offshore financial services visitors, and regional business leaders. CPO cover for senior delegates is calibrated to Belize City's crime environment, which is characterised by gang activity in southern residential areas and robbery targeting visitors near the commercial zone and cruise ship terminal.
Access Control and Credentialling
Tiered credentialled entry for delegate verification, zone access management, and vehicle management at venue approaches. Belize City events involving international executives or HNWI require structured access control, particularly given the proximity of the central commercial zone -- where crime is elevated -- to the Fort George hotel venues.
Secure Delegate Transport
Licensed security drivers for all delegate transfers from Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) and between city venues. The airport is approximately 15km from the Fort George hotel cluster via the Northern Highway. Pre-arranged inside-terminal collection with operations controller tracking is required for all senior delegate arrivals.
Hurricane Season Contingency Planning
Belize City sits below sea level and has been evacuated for major hurricanes on multiple occasions. Events planned during hurricane season (May to November, peak August to October) require contingency planning for weather disruption including venue generator backup, alternative transfer routes if airport access is affected, and evacuation protocols in the event of a category warning. Hurricane preparedness is an explicit element of the pre-event security and logistics plan.
Vetted operators. Local knowledge. Proven protocols.
Sources for this page
Licensing, firearms and foreign-operator rules for Belize City, checked : Private Security and Investigation Services (Control) Act, Cap. 138.01, Laws of Belize (revised edition 2011), Belize Judiciary. The full rules are on our Belize City security overview.
Travel advice quoted on this page: FCDO travel advice: Belize; US State Department travel advisory: Belize. Advice changes; read the current version before travel.