Rios Tropicales Wins Pioneers of Prosperity Award for Entrepreneurial and Sustainable Excellence

Feb. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Rios Tropicales was one of four Costa Rican companies recognized in the Pioneers of Prosperity - Central America awards.  Rios Tropicales won for its entrepreneurial vision, culture, sustainable business practices, and jobs provided over 25 years.  The award includes a grant of US10,000 dollars to be invested in employee training and development.

Rios Tropicales won in the pilot year of this exciting, entrepreneurial-driven award. To be eligible for Pioneers of Prosperity in the Central American region, companies must meet four organizational and size criteria. These include 1) employ at least 5 and no more than 250 full time staff; 2) Earn $ US 100,000 - $ US 5,000,000 in revenues per year; 3) Be a for-profit entity; and 4) Not rely on other donor grant financing. Pioneers of Prosperity is currently active in three regions of the world: Africa, The Caribbean, and Central America.  The Central American contest included Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. The program plans to expand to more countries in future years.

“We are very honored to receive this recognition.  It is humbling that our efforts to operate an adventure geotourism company according to sustainable principles of people, place, culture, and business serve as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs,” says Rios Tropicales Co-Founder and President, Rafael Gallo.

The mission of Pioneers of Prosperity is to create greater prosperity in emerging markets by harnessing the power of private enterprise solutions to poverty. To drive needed growth and prosperity around the world, the Pioneers of Prosperity Award is committed to recognizing and supporting entrepreneurs whose companies compete by serving all of their key stakeholders, their customers, owners, workers and future generations, in sustainable ways. The Pioneers of Prosperity Award Program is designed to be a high-impact initiative that identifies, rewards, and promotes model companies and their entrepreneurs in emerging economies. The IDB, The John Templeton Foundation, The Seven Fund and the OTF Group sponsored the Central American Pioneers of Prosperity Awards. http://www.pioneersofprosperity.org/

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About Rios Tropicales
Rios Tropicales is ranked one of the top rafting companies in the world and is ranked #1 in Costa Rica by National Geographic Adventure. Rios Tropicales won the 2008 National Geographic Ashoka Changemakers Geotourism Challenge and earned finalist in the 2008 Conde Naste World Savers Award. Established in 1985, Rios Tropicales is the largest and most experienced adventure company in Costa Rica. Led by its local founders, Rios Tropicales has expanded into a complete eco-adventure company offering Costa Rica vacation packages with whitewater rafting, an award-winning eco-lodge, jungle kayaking, canopy tours, mountain biking, hiking, rainforest restoration and sustainable development tours. Tour locations include the most treasured natural areas of Costa Rica: Central Costa Rica, La Fortuna, Canas, and Quepos. http://www.riostropicales.com