Celebrating five years, Francois Maduro, L.G. Smith’s Steak and Chop House, Legino Stomp, Sole Pool-Bar, Maria V. Altidor, Kitchen, Jiny Brete, Blue Bar, Ana M. Rincon, Kitchen, Ygnacia Mariano, Kitchen, Esperanza Gomez-Ramirez, Kitchen, Examene Dorismond, Steward, and Airton Campo, Kitchen.

Celebrating ten years, Sue Ann Liao-Jen, Human Resources, and Merly Scholder, Blue Bar. Remembering fifteen years Ana Hernandez, Kitchen, Luciana Dossous, Cafetaria, Arelis Tavarez, Kitchen and General Manager Paul Gielen, who was presented with his engraved commemorative plaque by shareholder Frida Croes.

Concluding twenty years, Mildred Theijsen, Sales & Marketing.

Thank you for being part of our success, read the plaque, presented to all those with long term careers at the Renaissance, combined with a great round of applause, and a gourmet lunch prepared by the culinary team of the Renaissance Convention Center.

AHATA, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association is hosting a destination review this weekend in collaboration with the Aruba Convention Bureau and other AHATA partners.

Participants of the Destination Review are top Meetings & Incentives Planners from North America and their island visit this weekend is designed to give them a taste of paradise, allowing them to experience Aruba first hand so they that could recommend it wholeheartedly to future large and small groups wishing to conduct meetings, trade fairs or conventions here.

Pictured here the Thursday morning presentation and mini trade fair orchestrated in their honor at the Radisson Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino.

The visiting dignitaries were welcomed by Rob Smith, President and CEO of AHATA, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association; Gary Jutz, General Manager Radisson Aruba Resort Spa & Casino, Mary Donohue, Director of Group Sales, Western USA, Karl Wentzel, Regional Sales Manager, Northeast USA and Lissette Carlo, Regional Sales Manager, Southeast USA.

Executive chef Hector Espinosa put together a delicious breakfast menu, and oversaw his chef’s interactive performance with the VIP visitors.

The Minister of Transportation and Tourism, Ing. Edison Briesen welcomed delegates to the Grand Caribbean Ballroom assisted by Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, Director of ATA, the Aruba Tourism Authority and Rob Smith, CEO of AHATA, the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association.

The official morning program included a presentation by the directors of marketing of both organizations: Fritz Israel on behalf of ATA and Sanju Daryanani on behalf of AHATA.

Both officials outlined Aruba’s marketing efforts and briefed ATCA delegates on the planned activities and on the island’s business outlook.

Aruba’s advertising company LOWE and its PR Agency, MSILVER, also shared creative plans for 2009 and accomplishments in 2008.

Especially interesting and informative was the presentation of the Aruba Airport Authority commenting on the business of arrivals & departures just before guest speaker Daniel Levine offered “Discovering the Fountain of Truth,” which was designed to enlighten delegates, all tourism professionals, on how to learn about destination marketing from global cultural trends.

40 years of bliss

Joe & Donna Miklojcik celebrated an important wedding anniversary at their home in Esmeralda surrounded by family members and friends.

Joe, a well-known local artist and Donna his green-thumbed gardening wife, had their party catered by the Wacky Wahoo chefs, who cooked up a storm in the couple’s beautiful backyard.

Trio Los Arubanos entertained and after dinner Joe orchestrated five competitive rounds of bingo with great creative prizes such as Iguana Bucher Block, Prime Minister Coco, Bon Bomb and Queen’s Hat, fought over by guests with a burning desire to win.

Happy Anniversary from all your friends and neighbors

Rob Smith with Pam, Dana and GaMPI attendee

Judging by the attendance at Thursday night’s welcome reception, the Summer Educational Alliance 2008, orchestrated by the GaMPI, the Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, is one of the highest attended MPI Summer Conferences in history.

“That is a major accomplishment,” says Rob Smith, President and CEO of AHATA, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association who helped bring the conference to Aruba, “considering the soaring costs of airfare and increasing budget cuts, having more than 200 attendees on the island, proves that Aruba is definitely on the planners’ list of ‘hot’ places.”

According to the registration report, the conference attracted attendees from GaMPI, The Carolinas, the Gulf States and the Potomac chapters of MPI, also members of HSMAI: Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International; GSAE: Georgia Society of Association Executives; ISES: International Special Events Society and PCMA: Professional Convention Management Assoc.

In past years the SEA Summer Conference enjoyed the hospitality of Cancun Mexico, Grand Bahama Island, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, all major vacation destinations and the choice of Aruba for 2008 was spearheaded by AHATA’s Pamela Shepherd, Regional Director of Sales, Aruba Convention Bureau and supported by David Wahba and Dana Bloom, who share the Sale & Marketing responsibilities for Westin Aruba Resort.

“We started talking about the summer conference in Aruba in 2003,” explains Shepherd, “we approached the board about considering a joint conference here . . .   The premise was broader education about the destination to a bigger number of professional meeting planners.”   ”The event has grown in size and content, since its inception more than eleven years ago” she adds, “and it now includes many major players in the field; SEA 2008 is recognized as a world-class opportunity to form relationships, nurture them and get business from attending and networking. It is an honor for Aruba and the Westin to be the hosts for such a recognized event,” she concludes.

In his welcome address Smith gave conference attendees a warm “Bon Bini & welcome y’all,” referring to his southern hospitality roots. He described Aruba as a small-island setting, in possession of a professional meeting and event environment. Smith stated that after upgrading the island’s assets to the tune of US$500 million in accommodations and meeting spaces in the last three years, Aruba successfully created a product which is modern and familiar yet retains the elements of a tropical island experience.

Smith was pleased to see the record attendance and shared that Delta’s second daily flight out of Atlanta starting in December will allow the island to roll out the welcome mat to regional visitors from the south with greater ease. Easy access, direct flights, top of the line meeting facilities, and technological capabilities combined with friendly, well-trained associates and picture perfect settings, add to successful collaborations with the Meeting and Incentive Market from the US and from all over the globe.

Pictured here the icebreaking cocktail reception and seated dinner and entertainment welcoming delegates on behalf of GaMPI, the Westin Aruba Resort & the Aruba Convention Bureau of North America

Their intense program included site inspections, cocktail parties, and dinner affairs, all designed to introduce the island and its superbly diverse tourist product, in consideration of future group business.  

Over the past few years Aruba has been making considerable efforts to attract Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, in large and small groups first via “Meet Aruba,” the AHATA marketing arm and recently by means by its evolution, the ACB, the Aruba Convention Bureau of North American, an exciting joint initiative between the public sector, the Aruba Tourism Authority and the private sector, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association.  

“The Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association is happy to represent Aruba as the contracted entity for the MICE market in North America, and in working to attract greater group business to the island,” comments AHATA President and CEO Rob Smith on the recently-signed agreement with the Aruba Tourism Authority.

“We already have 35-plus shows which we will be participating, together with AHATA-member resorts, and we are on track with reaching targeted goals this year. With the new additions to our Convention Bureau staff, with Carol Daughtery as the Regional Director of Sales in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and Hal Davis heading up sales efforts in the Mid-West, we expect to foster continued growth of the MICE market through the promotion of Aruba’s world-class resorts, state-of-the-art convention facilities and diverse offerings, as well as our convenient air connections and TIEA status.”

“We are very excited about the future,” reports ACB’s Heather Linton, “Under the name Meet Aruba the industry assumed we were a destination management company and that our services cost money. Now as we changed names to the Aruba Convention Bureau of North America, we get instant recognition. Industry professional know they can come to us with their business, and expect no charge since we are working for the destination, and our service to them is free of charge.”

Pictured here top decision makers from the US, getting to know the island, as hosted by the Aruba Convention Bureau of North America.

The Annual Tourism Conference of Aruba kicked off last week, with Aruba’s tourism partners welcoming U.S. travel wholesalers, tour operators and airline companies to the island.

The annual event provided these travel industry professionals with an update of the island’s overall tourism product.

The visitors were especially thrilled to experience the true transformation of The Westin Aruba Resort. Some

75 of them sampled a taste of it mid-construction last year and they were very pleased with the revolution they’ve seen in just 12 months, beginning with The Westin signature sensory welcome and the elegant yet simple lobby with soothing touches, including a subtle earth tone décor, mood music and ambient lighting at the wake of a $20 million dollar renovation.

ATCA delegates were impressed with Westin’s just-finished beautiful guest rooms offering the brand’s renowned services and amenities, including The Westin Heavenly Bed®

“The Westin signature amenities,” explains General Manager Matt Balcik, “are designed to elicit personal renewal for our guests vacationing in luxurious accommodations and pampered with personalize and instinctive services which help enrich their mind, body and spirit.”

“With the innovative services and distinctive Westin culture, we are confident that The Westin Aruba Resort is well on its way to set a new standard of hospitality in Aruba.”

ATCA delegates also toured the contemporary furnished and fully equipped ample meeting spaces, just before settling for a world-class gourmet breakfast buffet spread, served in the Palm Beach Ballroom.

The resort’s culinary team prepared omelets to order, breakfast pastries and breads, sausage, bacon, a

rainbow of fresh fruits, breakfast burritos stuffed with spinach and roasted tomatoes, and Aruba’s local pastechis, among many other morning favorites. They also enjoyed live music by Victor Camacho, the island’s famous pianist.

ATCA delegates then had a chance to mingle and gather information during the

Activities Showcase, where local activity companies set up a marketplace to

meet and familiarize the travel professionals with their products.

The morning wrapped up in The Westin Aruba Resort’s Grand Palm Beach

Ballroom, where a General Assembly was held.

]]> http://batibleki.visitaruba.com/2008/06/23/the-westin-aruba-resort-showcases-its-new-look-and-feel-to-atca-delegates/feed/ 0 http://batibleki.visitaruba.com/2008/06/04/ahata-hosts-career-fair-in-san-nicolaas/ http://batibleki.visitaruba.com/2008/06/04/ahata-hosts-career-fair-in-san-nicolaas/#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:58:50 +0000 Rona Coster http://batibleki.visitaruba.com/?p=243 For the first time in history, San Nicholas, Aruba’s oil town located in the southeastern tip of the island was the focal point of attention Saturday as the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association mobilized its membership to organize and attend a Career Fair at the local YMCA.

The island’s hotels who traditionally recruit by attraction decided to take a proactive stance and venture out of their Oranjestad and Palm Beach headquarters to go to the people and actively offer opportunities for employment and advancement in the tourism industry.

Sanju Daryanani, director in charge of labor issues for AHATA, explained that it was a positive step in an effort to meet the ever-growing demand in the labor market. Two more similar events are planned in the near future, one in Santa Cruz, in the heart of the island and another one in Oranjestad.

Pictured here AHATA members attending the Career Fair, determined to identify more then one-thousand additional hospitality workers with untapped, yet to be discovered talents.

While the Aruban officials welcomed the visiting top Europeans travel professionals to the island, and expressed their sincere wish to increase the flow of vacationers from the continent, Smith also smartly remind AME delegates of the favorable Euro exchange rate and of the fact that Aruba is a sophisticated island speaking a number of European languages, and proud of its distinctly European heritage and flavors in anything from street-signs to cuisine.

Pictured here the Opening Ceremony at the Aruba Marriott Resort emceed by Nathalie Maduro and Tirso Tromp, with participation of singer Edjean Semeleer, Ruby Eckmeyer Director of the Department of Culture, Frits Israel, Marketing Director, Aruba Tourism Authority and Barbara Brown, Business Unit Manager for the Aruba Airport Authority.

Having visited the Talk of the Town Resort admiring the many positive changes and improvements, delegates to the Aruba Meets Europe 2008 conference continued their evening of explorations at the adjacent Cas Di Cultura for a night of cultural entertainment.

Welcomed by strawberry champagne and gourmet hors d’oeuvres catered by Matilde Restaurant against the backdrop of a recycled art exposition and the tunes of local pianist Johnny Schaarbaai, delegates were invited to watch “one in soul,” a ballet performance by Alidia Wever delivered in collaboration with various local artists and the ballet schools.

A reception in the garden followed with more delectable hors d’oeuvres and open bar provided by A Taste of Belgium, as the Carlos Bislip Jazz Trio entertained for the second half of the evening.

Local designer Fernando Mansur waved his magic wand over the happenings at Cas Di Cultura, lending the evening a special creative touch.

The innovative night was conceived by the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association in honor of the European dignitaries visiting the island, on the look out for the cultural aspects of the Aruba vacation experience.

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