On Wednesday, the Lapa Rios Ecolodge in the Osa Peninsula, owned by John & Karen Lewis, was announced as a winner of the Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).  This distinction is given out by the US State Department and the announcement was made via videoconfrence by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Only 60 companies operating in 45 countries were nominated for the award and there were ten finalists chosen by the ACE selection committee: Amman- Cisco Systems, Inc.; Beijing- Merck; Beijing- United Postal Service; Budapest- General Electric; Jakarta- Chevron Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur- Intel Malaysia; Mexico City- Johnson Controls; New Delhi- Ford Motor Company; San Jose- Hotel Lapa Rios; Sofia- American Standard.

The only two winners were Lapa Rios and CISCO Systems of Jordan.  The awards were established in 1999 to recognize the role played by the American business community overseas.  Each year, U.S. ambassadors nominate companies based on their employment and environmental practices, contributions to the host country’s local economy, and compliance with U.S., international and local laws.  Lapa Rios won the small to medium sized category for their work in the local community and  their rainforest reserve.