Who We Are
Who are we and how did the tranquil, tropical vacation spot that is Banana Beach come to be?
The year was 1995. Sitting on the deck in Dallas with his feet up, puffing on his cigar, an article in International Living highlighting Honduras as one of the top retirement destinations in the world captured Rand Popp’s attention. Working since the age of ten, Rand habitually fuels his creative mind pursuing challenging new ventures. An entrepreneur, an architect, a businessman, a dream weaver, a risk taker, and a father – Rand embodies these all. Needless to say, within a year of reading this intriguing article, he hopped a quick flight to San Pedro Sula, Honduras where he rented a car and set out driving along the blossoming northern coast with merely a Spanish map as his guide. When he reached the lush, wild rainforest that gives way to a sprawling, white sandy beach and clear, midnight blue water, he knew he’d landed in that very spot for a purpose. He soon bought the picturesque property along the enchanting Caribbean Sea and the idea of Banana Beach was born.
Little by little Rand shaped his vision into a reality. Living on his quaint slice of paradise in a sixteen foot trailer that survived the drive from Dallas, Texas to Santa Fe, Honduras, Rand spent many hours gazing out at the beautiful nature abounding around him and mentally constructed his dream, piece by piece. Now a few years later, his vision is flourishing and constantly expanding. He has created a private, tropical paradise off the beaten path where people can escape their every day routines and unwind beneath the vivid, setting sun. His overwhelming desire to reach out to people and to make them feel welcome has been thoroughly satisfied. Guests at Banana Beach are treated like good friends and family which leaves people feeling right at home. Looking into the future, Banana Beach Resort has several exciting plans for expansion and will only continue to grow and further surpass your expectations.
Our Team
Rand Popp- Owner & Developer
Involved in the restaurant industry as well as the design-build industry all his life, Rand has directed projects in numerous countries including Japan, Guam, and the United States of America. Having recently sold his restaurant/sports complex in Dallas, Texas that he developed and successfully operated for 28 years, his full focus is now on Banana Beach Resort. He designed and constructed the well-known and loved restaurant/bar and swimming pools as well as the two exquisite cabanas we currently rent. He will begin his next project, the construction of eight luxurious poolside condominiums, in early 2012. Rand is the head beach bum at Banana Beach and sees to it that everything is maintained and the business operates smoothly.
Juergen Peters- General Manager & Head Chef
Born in Hamburg, West-Germany, Juergen has been interested in cooking his entire life. His mother first taught him to cook and passed on her homemade cooking secrets and passion for exceptional cooking. As an adult, Juergen spent six months in Florence, Italy, and took intensive cooking courses training him in the culinary arts. He then acted as a guest chef in several German restaurants before moving to Honduras and later accepting the head chef position at Rainbow Village in La Ceiba in 2007. Juergen moved from La Ceiba to Santa Fe where he is and has been the head chef of The Mystic Beach Club, Bar & Restaurant at Banana Beach for almost three years. Preparing excellent food and running a fun, attentive crew, Juergen heads the kitchen ensures that all customers receive quality service.
Jenna Popp- Sales & Marketing Manager
New to the team, Jenna graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in May 2011, with a degree in business marketing and a concentration in Spanish. During university she also worked as a marketing intern for the Dallas Convention & Visitors’ Bureau and Launch Marketing. She studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain and Santiago, Chile for extended periods of time as well and is, therefore, very familiar with Spanish and Latin culture. Jenna decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue the dream in June of 2011. She handles all cabana reservations and social media and is constantly working to promote Banana Beach Resort both nationally and internationally.
Why Banana Beach?
Banana Beach Resort’s dedication to personalized guest service and the reliable consistency of the products we offer promise a peaceful, hassle-free experience and set us apart from any vacation hotels in Trujillo Honduras on Banana Coast. With ample training in quality service and overflowing knowledge of the area, our staff is eager to facilitate your travels and help you acclimate to the change in culture. From providing you with a personal cell phone on request and preparing special dinner dishes to showing you around town, we work to meet your specific needs.
Our Mission
Banana Beach Resort’s mission is to send every resident and visitor home to their previous life and routine with excited anticipation for their next trip back to paradise. We achieve our mission by treating all guests with respect and a positive attitude and upholding our guarantee of excellent, personalized service from the time of their inquiry up until they arrive safely home.
Feel free to contact us to learn more.
