“Congratulations to all colleagues at the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa” says General Manager Rob Smith, “They jointly achieved the highest GSI improvement over last year at +0.53 and they had the highest GSI score for full service hotels at 8.66 this quarter, the team will enjoy the pineapple trophy in addition to a corporate allowance, earmarked for a fun team event!” 

MEDALLIA polls guest satisfaction scores among owned and managed Carlson Hotels, eliciting guests’ comments and remarks and publishing ratings every quarter.

Pictured here the winners enjoying their party, served by the executive committee of the resort.

Francine Merryweather and her son Herbert, his wife Carolina and the restaurant’s staff enjoyed a champagne toast with guests, escorted by the restaurant’s famous seafood hors d’hoeuvres, in honor of the special day.

Spreading the good news even further, during the month of July, the Driftwood restaurant is offering locals and visitors added value worth a celebration on its own, in the form of 25% discount, off dinner.

Twenty-five years ago, on July 4^th, the Driftwood Restaurant unceremoniously opened its door on Klipstraat 12, in Oranjestad.

Herby used to go fishing every day, recalls Francine, and his catch was always much in-demand among friends. Finally Francine, or was it Herby, who came up with the idea of opening a quaint fisherman’s restaurant at the heart of town, on a quiet street, in a typically colonial former residence.

The décor idea came to the Merryweathers in a flash. Driftwood, of course. Herby encountered large quantities of it bobbing in the waves while on his fishing safaris and he started to bring the weathered, well-travelled wood home, to store for future use.

When the restaurant idea was hatched Herby recruited all fish-loving friends to collect more washed in wood on the North Shore, and deliver their loot as building material for interior decor, which he inter-wove with mirrored glass, shells, fish nets, and retired maritime bric a brac.

Francine recalls just 8 tables, and a hand-written menu, which she designed including the logo. The tablecloths were hand-sewn at home, and the atmosphere distinctly cozy and intimate, which restaurant patrons, both locals and visitors found irresistibly charming.

While the restaurant expanded over the years, a few things never changed including the quality of the daily fresh catch, swimming in the sea in the morning and starring on plates by dinner time, and the Aruban-style congenial hospitality.

Yes, the fish soup too. After 25 years the restaurant’s traditional Fish Soup is still based on an old family recipe, the soup is made fresh every day and served brimming with Wahoo, Mahi Mahi and Grouper. Francine reveals that the secret to the taste is a twig of basil, otherwise known in Aruba as Yerb’i Hole, grown in her garden. Francine says that the best way to enjoy the fish soup is with a piece of the restaurant’s buttery funchi – baked polenta or with a slice of traditional Pan Bati – corn meal pancake wedges.

At the helm, Francine is a passionate restaurateur, who cares deeply about the restaurant’s dinner experience making sure each one of her guests enjoys his meal to the fullest. Combined with Herby’s passion for fish and fishing, the last 25 years flew by quickly.

The Driftwood restaurant menu still features the largest Shrimp in the sea, Fresh Fish & Caribbean Lobster even Alaska King Crab Legs, all cooked in a variety of tasty ways with garlic and wine, curry and cream, in the traditional Creole style, or blackened, while also offering famous combination platters making any seafood lover’s dream, come true.

Meat eaters will be pleased with the restaurant Black Angus beef steak, chicken and lamb. Patrons find the Pasta Thermidor or even the Chicken Parmesan, hard to resist.

The restaurant is open for dinner every day, and should you desire to catch you own fish for dinner, join the owner on Driftwood I and Driftwood II for a half or full day deep sea fishing charter.

Happy Anniversary Driftwood restaurant!

Pictured here, the Merryweather family, the dedicated staff members of the restaurant, some local taxi drivers who dropped in to congratulate the family, besides assorted friend and acquaintances.

When the official results were tallied regarding all aspects of work at the resort a surprising 78.9% score was achieved which indicated what many already knew, that the associates of La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club love their resort and are very happy to go to work every day and apply themselves with talent and passion to the task at hand, namely meeting and exceeding guest’s and management’s expectations.

To celebrated the high score the executive office dressed up as wait stuff serving lunch at the cafeteria wearing gold bow ties and gold medals, to the music of “We Are the Champions,” a powerful Rock ballad, often played at sports events to underscore achievement!

Assistant general manager Jessica Franken created many of the decorations, on her handy sawing machines. Pictured here,  the “Cafeteria Theme Luncheon Honors the Champions,” as organized by the Executive Office.

At the beginning of the year the three departments formulated a new strategy, that of instant reporting of room hiccups, from burned bulbs, to deficient air-conditioners, or sluggish TV remotes, those little bugs usually discovered upon guest check in.

The housekeeping department committed to instant reporting of room defect via the Central Dispatch and the telephone operators, to the Engineering Department, for fixing.

As a result of the close collaboration Zero Defect was achieved just recently prompting resort managers to throw a party in honor of the teams, under the trees on Eagle Beach, with music, snacks and refreshments.

Pictured here the proud Executive Housekeeper Miriam Courtar, and Glenda Brokke of Central Dispatch Services celebrating the achievement with those who made it happens, their colleagues and friends at La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club, presenting them with Zero Defect Appreciation certificates.  Room checks ins are now much smoother, they agree, with guests experiencing complete satisfaction over the state of their accommodations!

Helen Werleman, the super-woman in charge of the Executive Office became Supervisor of the Trimester while the Winning Team for the respective period was made up of Beverage Team members, working together for the benefit of internal and external clients.

While enjoying the communal lunch, the resort also celebrated the 10th anniversary for Maria Toribio, Food & Beverage Department and Yves Andre, Engineering Department. The 15th Anniversary for Marisol Charles, Housekeeping Department and Jeanette Brooks, Food & Beverage Department. The 20th Anniversary for Debby De Cuba, Owners Reservations Department and the hotel first employee, and Cesar Tromp, Accounting Department.

The afternoon gave Special Recognitions, presented by casino manager Edgard Roos, to those who celebrated their anniversary during the period of April-May-June, 2010.

Marking their fifth anniversary at the Crystal & Seaport Casinos, Elvis Wouters, Crystal Security, Juraynne Geerman, Crystal Table Operations, Gregory Winklaar, Crystal Table Operations, Benjamin Koeiman, Seaport Cage, and Erick Chirino, Crystal Security.

Completing ten years with the company were Giany Viapree, Crystal Host, and Stella Silberie, Marketing & Host.

Concluding fifteen years of service, Giovanni Tromp, Crystal Operation, Jorgen Velasquez, Crystal Operation, Raul Feliciana, Crystal Operation, and Haidi Dijkhoff, Seaport Operation.

For the Front of the House, a number of outstanding associates were named, among them Marlyn Maureen Ras-Kock, Seaport Dealer, nominated by Mirlanda Tromp; Stella Silberie, Marketing & Host, nominated by Rosendo Koolman; Jermaine Wilson, Marketing & Host, nominated by Mariano Arends, and the ultimate winner Enrique Kelly, Beverage Crystal, nominated by David Odor.

As Supervisor of the Quarter, the nominees included Luz Amparo Brinegar-Mantilla, Marketing & Host, nominated by Orlando Vrolijk; Carmen Surarez-Koolman, Cage Crystal, nominated by David Odor, and the ultimate winner for the coveted title, Haidi Dijkhoff, Seaport Table Operations, who was nominated by Mirlanda Tromp.

The title of Manager of the Quarter went to Adrian Lacle, Assistant Cage Manager, who was nominated by both Gian Pietersz and Edgard ‘Dady’ Roos.

Pictured here the winners with casino management.

The afternoon gave Special Recognitions, including the celebration of anniversaries during the period of April, May and June 2010.

Celebrating their fifth anniversary at the hotel were Rene Wilson, Accounting, Jorge Gomez, Security, and Glauco Tamasco, Security.

Completing ten years with the resort were , Ricardo Sarman, L.G. Smith’s, Carlos Arango, Kitchen, Juan Pedro Cornejo, Steward, Yalithza Lake, Captain Corner, Juan Carlos Castro, Engineering, and Rud Cabrera-Silveiro, Housekeeping.

Concluding fifteen years of service, Luz Marina Linscheer, Sole Poolbar, Francisco Faro, Renaissance Island, Julna Mardy, Kitchen, Danilo de Guzman, Room Service, Julio Avila, Kitchen, y Juan Carlos Alegre, Landscaping.

Having reached their 20^th anniversary, the resort recognized Benito Flanegin, Engineering, Lucia Yarzagaray, Housekeeping, Magaly Paula, Housekeeping, and Vilma Wever, Housekeeping.

The associates celebrating their anniversaries received warm words of welcome from their colleagues, and praise from members of management, for the fact that they continue to apply themselves to their career in hospitality.

For the Heart of the House, General Manager Paul Gielen handed out certificates to Lillian Eubanks, Linen Attendant, nominated by Saskia Croes; Ronal Vos, Painter/Engineer Ocean Suites, nominated by Ray Joseph/Lico Hermans; Carmen Palomino, Cook Helper, nominated by Edward Zievinger; Melissa Rosina, Delighted to Serve Agent, nominated by Mariska Geerman; and winner for Heart of the House, Olga de Kort, A/R Clerk, nominated by Miroushka Statia.

For the Front of the House, a number of outstanding associates were named, among them Cesar Lopez, Bellman – Front Office, nominated by Selmar de Roo; Dorothy Tromp, B & F Waitress MH, nominated by Olmedo Arango; Rosalba Marroquin, B & F Waitress Ocean Suites, nominated by Olmedo Arango; Edward Tromp, B & F Waiter L.G. Smith’s, nominated by Michael Ras; and the ultimate winner Vanie Dinzey, Papagayo-Waitress, nominated by Francisco Faro.

As Supervisor of the Quarter, the nominees included Magaly Paula, HSK Supervisor, nominated by Saskia Croes; Yuraima Wernet, Front Desk Supervisor, nominated by Selmar de Roo; Francois Maduro, B & F Supervisor, nominated by Michael Ras; and the ultimate winner for the coveted title, Carlos Cortez, Kitchen Technician Supervisor, who was nominated by the Kitchen Team and Marco Polo Pina.

Nominated for the title of Manager of the Quarter was Rafael Jones, Wedding Coordinator, who was nominated by Edrien Arends.

Pictured here are the nominees and winners with General Manager Paul Giel

The event unfolded in the Grand Caribbean Ballroom and featured a delicious catered lunch. General Manager Rob Smith and Director of Human Resources Glenn Farro conducted the award ceremony calling colleagues on stage to receive their awards as well as public recognition.

The nominations, by department heads, recounted stories of dedication and commitment: covering for colleagues on vacation, working double shifts, handling guests’ wishes and concerns, and in general raising the bar on service-excellence at the resort.

Among those nominated Juliana Rasmijn, Eugenille Perez, Marilu Erasmus, Jhon Villar Polo, Stephanie Tromp, Mathilde Clement, Teresa Delgado, Lucio Croes, Grace Chan, Theo Ruiz, Marvinia Richardson & Gerson Alcocer.

The winners, Aura Reed for April, Edwin Tromp for May, and Fernanda Pierre for June demonstrated their value as team players, outshining their peers with their performance during the second quarter of the year.

During lunch, the resort also acknowledged colleagues with long term careers celebrating their first, third, fifth, tenth, fifteenth and twentieth anniversary at the Radisson.

Celebrating a decade, Victor Hernandez, Audrey Sinclair, Lourdes Ridderstaat, Winnie Mabalay, George Lopez, Armando Boekhoudt and Cesar Saldivar; completing fifteen years Milaine Jourdain, Jeanine Poulard & Helene Ruiz, and receiving accolades for giving twenty years to the resort, and to the Housekeeping Department, Sandra Gonzalez, who is a star Sr Room Attendant.