The winners for the Renaissance Marina Hotel and the Renaissance Ocean Suites was a team of four exceptional individuals, two employees, one for the Front of the House and the other for the Back of the House, one Supervisor and one Manager. Those landing top honors as members of Team of the Quarter were eligible to become candidates for Team of the Year.

The winners, having out-performed all their peers were from the Heart of the House, Roberto Ramirez, General Engineer, Renaissance Private Island; Ifna Williams, Front Desk Clerk; Supervisor Alex Alders, Banquet Events and Front Desk Manager Selma de Roo.

Many others were also nominated for the coveted spot on the top team, and deserved recognitions, said Gielen, among them Felix (Dito) Fingal, Delighted to Serve Agent; Felicia Donata Demi, Chef at the Ocean Suites; Julio Tromp, Food & Beverage Bartender Ocean Suites; Anushka v/d Linden, Food & Beverage Hostess Aquarius and Geordino Ruiz, Food & Beverage Waiter, L..G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House. Some outstanding supervisors included Jose Urena, Chef di Partie; Rosenda Lopez, Food & Beverage Supervisor L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House; Zoyla Croeze, Retail Administrator; Primkoemar Manna, Food & Beverage Supervisor and Etelvina Ridderstaat, Housekeeping Supervisor.

Pictured here most-enjoyable party moments and the top team.

“The Anabui Residence Club complex,” says Managing Director Bas van den Nieuwenhuijzen, “is Aruba’s first project in which, based on the co-efficiency of all components, the Carbon Footprint Reduction amounts to over 40%.”

And that is excellent news for the island’s environment because the Anabui Residence Club first building will save up to 179 ton of CO^2, savings expressed in energy consumption, Van Den Nieuwenhuijzen reiterates, which will manifest long term, because of the substantially more thermally efficient wall system implemented by Tierra del Sol.

The first units including a fully furnished model residence will be inaugurated shortly, he stated.

Located on a beautiful hilltop, just across from the club house, the exciting Anabui Residence Club, designed by famed Stofft & Cooney Architects from Naples, Florida, features a collection of 36 spacious, concierge-serviced residences complete with everything from gourmet cookware to luxury linens, serviced in the manner of fine resorts and maintained by a dedicated year round staff. A limited number of units was released this year at pre-construction prices starting at $149,900.-, and island visitors are invited to drop in to preview the detailed plans, and visit the Anabui site, before prices go up.

The sales gallery for Anabui Private Residences is located in the club house, and is staffed by a handpicked sales team, under the leadership of an expert in the field, Sven Ellerkamp. Sven who worked for Marriott Aruba Resort Surf & Ocean Clubs as a vacation ownership consultant for eight years came on board Anabui Residence Club to help introduce the new product to the island. The deeded 1/10^th interests with the rights and privileges of traditional real estate ownership, he says, while novel in Aruba, is a concept known around the world, already offered by top global hospitality brands and Tierra del Sol, always an industry leader, undertook the challenge of developing the first fractional resort on Aruba.

Sven explains that owners are guaranteed 28 nights in their residence each year, with flexible scheduling, and unlimited additional usage on a space available basis. The turnkey simplicity of the project, he adds, is perfect for today’s vacation buyers who wish to have their property maintained year round, who desire daily housekeeping while in residence and who enjoy concierge services and other upscale amenities as matched with Tierra del Sol’s island lifestyle to deliver golf, spa, fitness, food and relaxation, in a place that is fun and affordable.

Pictured here the amazing view from the building and some of the Topping of the Roof ceremony snapshots, with the construction team having a few cold ones as well!!

In December 2007, Windie & Rene opened their fully-stocked Sport Shop, then they inaugurated their tremendous salt water, half Olympic size pool in August of 2008.

The Swim Center offers a bonanza of ‘no sweat, get wet’ activities for people of all ages, but the one single activity that is gaining momentum every day is Hydro Riding, and the Aqua Power Classes, both offering spinning on a special bike, immersed in water.

The benefits of Hydro Riding says Windie, a true-blue water baby herself, are too numerous to mention, but above all Hydro Riding provides excellent cardio-vascular exercise and when the Hydro-Tone Water Weight Dumbells are added for the Aqua Power Class, the workout is complete with total upper and lower body fitness, strengthening all core muscles without an ounce of stress.

Aqua Power instructor Roy reports that the bike ride, exhilarating by itself, is guaranteed to help shed those holiday pounds, and that Aqua Power is the hottest trend in fitness right now.

Windie adds that Hydro-Riding differs from regular spinning classes, which take place on stationary bikes in an often air-conditioned classroom setting.

At Windie’s Swim Center classes take place under the clear Caribbean sky, in the morning and in the evening hours each day, and because of the cool water temperature, bikers can train longer and a typical session lasts 60 full minutes from warm up to cool down.

Most of all, not to worry, buoyancy reduces “seat soreness” which is sometimes associated with regular spinning and is easier on people with lower back problems.

The Joyful, refreshing and recharging classes can burn up to 500-700 calories, and the bikes made from marine steel have a few levels of resistance and adjust easily to body size.

Beginners and pro-athletes and anything in between are invited to discover the benefits of Hydro-Riding with Sandy, Roy & Windie. You may stay for breakfast or lunch or an in-between meal at the Aqua Café, on property.

Did we mention Scuba, Padi certification and snorkeling? That is available too.

With the reveal of the shopping and entertainment plaza, it is also time to present the dynamic personalities making up the sales, marketing and operations team of the mega project.

Alex Otterspeer, with an economic, communication and marketing background is the mall manager. Recruited one year ago, Alex was the perfect fit for the vacancy, says general consultant, marketing and sales guru Charles Croes, who spearheaded the talent search and job interviews.

Born and educated in Holland Alex brings sound management experience earned in Aruba and in Holland. “The last eleven months,” he says,” we all shared a trailer on the construction site, and watched this project evolve day in, day out; working with our sub-contractors, suppliers, and investors on the creation of a truly formidable mall, like no other in the Caribbean.”

Alex describes the scope of the project by numbers: “62 retails locations, 46 tenants, 6 full-service restaurants, one coffee shop, 8 food court outlets, 88 roof-top air-conditioning compressors, 6 escalators, 362 parking spots, the span of the project was challenging and it is therefore very gratifying to see it all come together,” he shares.

Indra Stamper came to the Palm Beach Plaza Mall from Tiara Air. A born marketer, Indra’s smile and sunshiny demeanor inspires instant trust. She was the perfect candidate to manage the mall’s Tenant Relations Department, explains Croes. Twelve months ago Indra started sharing the management trailer on the construction site, as her office, with Alex. She shouldered both marketing and sales for the project, and as the mall neared completion Indra was entrusted with the human-element, prospective tenants and tenants, who meanwhile developed an exceptional rapport with her, in an atmosphere of friendship and respect.

Indra reports people from all over the world came to the mall-under-construction with their dreams of opening a business here. They came by attraction, not promotion — as the mall hardly had to advertise for vacancies — from Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, St Martin & Holland, all drawn by the desire to do business here. “The mall retail locations,” she informs, “are all spoken for, and the mix of stores is exciting and contemporary.”

Shannon Lopez Penha was brought in from Price Smart where she was front-end manager in charge of cashiers and incoming cash. As a member of the Palm Beach Plaza management team she now drives the marketing end of the mall helping orchestrate the Last Lap, as she calls it, the final hoopla just before opening day, including signs, billboards, construction details, and the Select Card for consumer discounts.

In addition to her general mall responsibilities Shannon directs the pre-opening activities of Pixies Bijoux, a fantastic jewelry store on the second level and the Barrel Bay mini market, on the first level, both trendy concept stores designed by leading Miami firms. The mini market will also feature a dedicated chocolate store, by French chocolate-maker Jeff De Bruges, which is one of Europe’s best kept secrets, and will available for the first time in Aruba.

Croes, the grey eminence, providing supervisory blessing and direction, is at the head of the pre-opening team effort. “When we started,” he confides, “we read everything ever published about mall management, rules, and functions — it isn’t much, he interjects — and we came a long way since then, setting our sights on a diverse and interesting variety of shops, and activities.”

“To be successful,” Croes confides, “a mall must offer can’t-live-without services such as a post-office or a mini market. Yet it also has to provide an element of fantasy, movies, rock climbing, whatever trips consumers’ triggers, and a sprinkle of fun, targeting all ages, for example the mall’s Cigar bar for adults and playground for children.”

Croes reports a sense of satisfaction over the coming-together of the project, which is proud to have recruited as strategic partners Maria Silva of Vibrations to oversee events, Adolfo Valbuena to produce signs and billboards, Jason Margarita of ASAP for e-marketing, John Stoppels, Freeway Aruba for graphic design and printing, and Rona Coster of Marketing Plus for PR projects. Having picked a team of stars and a super mix of tenants, Aruba should be looking forward to the island’s #2 attractions, the Palm Beach Plaza, with Aruba’s beaches retaining their #1 position. Check out the mall on facebook, today.

The Fall-Winter 2009/10 edition marks the magazine’s 8^th Annual Swimsuit edition, with gorgeous shots taken at some of the island’s lesser-known “hidden beaches.”  The new edition also features a creative look into Aruba’s culturally-diverse celebration of holidays.  Homegrown traditions are explored with holidays indigenous to Aruba, like Betico Day and National Anthem and Flag Day, as well as worldwide holidays like Christmas and New Year that are infused with a special Aruban flavor.

“This latest edition exemplifies Island Temptations’ commitment to share our unique and dynamic culture with the rest of the world,” says Rona Coster, the magazine’s director of marketing and public relations, “and our creative team, headed by Tina Causey-Escobedo, continues to find magical and original ways to present the island in words and images that is unparalleled by any other Caribbean publication.”

Island Temptations is available in the lobbies of  island resorts, restaurants and cafes, Ling & Sons Super Center, and many island retail outlets.

As we all know, both locals and visitors have been complaining for years that finding a specific address on the island is a complicated challenge and that numbers often make no sense and that street signs are missing and that residents are always as lost as island visitors.

All that will be history after Monday, April 27^th, at 3 p.m. when a press conference introduces Aruba’s Best Pages, a new free public service!

The press conference at Rembrandt Café, South Beach Centre, behind the Hard Rock Café, will unveil www.ArubaBestPages.com, to the Aruban public.

Naturally, the icon of Aruba’s Best Pages says it all: a big happy smiley, prepared to assist companies and individuals finding specific addresses and business information, contact details, web links, and map locations. Companies may naturally seize the moment and advertise their services as well.

All will be revealed Monday, say Theo Valize and Milo Van Linden, facilitating the debut of Aruba’s Best Pages, a multi-lingual service in English and Dutch with a Papiamento and an Spanish version coming , capable of linking to social media and personal profiles on Facebook, Hyves, MySpace, Linkedin & YouTube, and that is what we call exciting news!!

Pictured here Theo and the Sales Team.

Anabui is a collection of 36 spacious, concierge-serviced, three-bedroom residences, at the heart of famed Tierra del Sol complete with gourmet cookware and luxury linens serviced in the manner of a fine resort and maintained by a dedicated year-round staff.

Geerman will be at the helm of the operation, having served for the past 10 years as Ventanas’ del Mar Food & Beverage Manager and having transitioned to the Anabui Private Residence Club, just recently.

Emilio arrived at the golf course with the Hyatt Regency. He has over the past decade successfully developed the catering and restaurant business of Tierra del Sol until he was asked to undertake a new career challenge with Anabui.

Emilio reports he participated in the exciting training course with the Anabui sales associates and is looking forward to the prospect of running his own resort within a resort, servicing an elite clientele out of a dedicated club house facility, now in the planning phase.

As previously announced Anabui Private Residence Club is under construction at Tierra del Sol, with the infrastructure and road work planned from January 2009 through October 2009 and the first two buildings scheduled to be built from January 2009 through June 2010. The elegant clubhouse & swimming pool will be constructed from July 2009 through June 2010, with the rest of the Anabui construction on a schedule to be completed by December, 2011.

 Director of Sales Sven Ellerkamp reports the deeded, one-tenth ownership private residences offer 28 nights occupancy guaranteed each year and are perfect for Aruba visitors with a desire to own, not just share.

Tierra del Sol with its wealth of amenities is perfectly positioned to offer an unmatched Island lifestyle, and unlimited privileges, minimizing financial commitments and maximizing the pursuit of vacation pleasure.

the Pom Squad in action

The popular Santosa Health Club and Spinning Center is again introducing a novel and exciting form of physical activity, this time for kids, in the form of 50-minute Cheerleading & Pom Pom classes. An introductory class will be held on November 21st, at 5pm. The fee to attend this class is Awg 15.- per child.

Cheerleading & Pom Pom classes offer movement and dance and develop athletic ability in a most enjoyable, and fun method. Cheerleading & Pom Pom classes are best defined as “Athletic Dance.”  Cheer moves and high energy dance combinations help develop strength, flexibility and coordination in girls who enjoy dancing.

After the upcoming holiday season, classes will be available each Saturday from 11.00 a.m. to 11.50 a.m.  Cheerleading & Pom Pom, for girls 8-11 years old, first class offered January 10th; And from 12.00 noon to 12.50 p.m., Cheerleading & Pom Pom, for girls 12-16 years old, first class offered January 10th.

Santosa is a  health club and an official Spinning Center specialized in group exercise sessions. The facility is equipped with two state of the art class rooms and is fully climate controlled. More than 40 classes are on the schedule per week, designed from students of all ages, with the minimum age being 4 years. The club delivers powerful Spinning classes, and strong fitness classes such as Cardio Pump and BLT, fun and exciting dance classes such as the popular Zumba and Dance Fusion. Classes energizing body & mind such as Yoga, Pi-Yo and traditional Pilates, are offered as well as special Kids & Teen classes.
The highly motivated certified instructors, do their very best to keep students’ minds motivated and their bodies stimulated, working towards a mutual goal of developing a healthy and active lifestyle. Santosa, which means happiness in the old Indian language is the end result of body & soul synergy and contentment.

As an extra service to moms, Santosa offers a supervised Kids Club Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., except Sundays, at Awg 5,00 per class taken and a wonderful Espresso Bar, a cozy corner serving delicious coffees and sports drinks. Located at Bushiri 30, Tel. 582-8132 or E-mail info@santosa-aruba.com
Openings hours: Mon-Fri 8-noon and 4-9 pm, Sat 8.30-12.30 pm Sun 9.30-noon

The Gorgeous Anabui Residence

Following the sell-out success of Las Palmas I, a cluster of 27 stylish condominiums, Tierra del Sol’s management, forever on a quest for innovations, approached a US resort development firm to provide guidance and expertise, for the launch of an exciting new project, Anabui Private Residence Club, offering fractional interests, in fully furnished, 3-bedroom club residences.

“We came off the construction of Las Palmas I,” explains Managing Director David Brown,” with the desire to develop a completely new concept for Aruba. In view of the current soft US real estate market, we dreamed up the idea of offering deeded fractional ownerships which would limit our clients’ financial commitments and free their time to spend more vacation days with their family members.”

Anabui Residence Club, designed by famed Stofft & Cooney Architects from Naples, Florida, features a collection of 36 spacious, concierge-service, residences complete with everything from gourmet cookware to luxury linens, serviced in the manner of fine resorts and maintained by a dedicated year round staff. A limited number of units will be released at pre-construction prices starting at $149,900.- beginning Nov 1st, 2008. 

A sales gallery for Anabui Private Residences is presently under construction in the club house and a sales team is being hand-picked by an expert in the field Sven Ellerkamp.

In addition to building Anabui residence, Tierra Del Sol is also planning the expansion of the golf course with an additional 9 holes on nearly 200 acres to the north-east of the property and additional 200 homes within the existing boundaries.

Tierra del Sol boasts a panoramic restaurant, Ventanas del Mar, at 65 feet above sea level with unobstructed ocean and golf views, Body & Soul spa and fitness center, an elegant swimming pool, the Look-Out Bar and lit tennis courts.

Also on the drawing board for Tierra del Sol the development of 300 hotel rooms, 5 star resort which will include 50 hotel villas, and 150 timeshare units, for a total of 450 keys on two parcels, Vientomar & Punta Arashi, which are approximately 25 acres, located just above Arashi Beach and below the California Lighthouse.  

As part of this project Tierra del Sol will be providing the hotel with direct beach access and the possibility of developing two other parcels, Campo Bello & Paseo de Playa, already within Tierra Del Sol’s Master Plan, to accommodate an additional 63 branded villas.

Tierra Del Sol Resort Spa & Country Club located on the north-western part of the island enjoys natural preserves as boundaries on the north and east sides, while in the west the property borders with fabulous Arashi beach.

Tierra del Sol enjoys Caribbean ocean views from three directions and is naturally protected from surrounding development by sand dunes and wetlands.

Located within a twenty minute drive from the airport and a two minute drive from the High Rise hotels on Palm Beach, Tierra del Sol is Aruba’s premier real estate development.

The community, which sits on approximately 600 acres, is the only Master Planned Gated Community on Aruba. As part of its master-plan, conceived more than a decade ago, 636 estate homes, villas and condominiums are to be built, of which 242 units have been built or are currently under construction.

The remaining 394 units in the master-plan consist of: 170 residential condominiums, 184 residential villas and patio homes, 40 residential estate homes and a mixed-use commercial plaza.

All of Tierra Del Sol’s magnificent residential communities are built around the 18-holes Robert Trent Jones II Championship Golf Course which is ranked among the best Caribbean golf courses, facilitating more than 45,000 rounds of golf each year. Tierra del Sol is therefore no doubt, the most played golf course in the region.  

Top 10 reasons for buying real estate at Tierra del Sol

1. 600 Acres of unspoiled beauty

2. Aruba’s only Master Planned Community, with signature services available and an active Master Association in place.

3. Popular Robert Trent Jones II’s 18-hole championship golf course, unlimited golf packages available

4. Award winning cuisine at Ventanas del Mar Restaurant,  

5. Body & Soul Spa, with sumptuous amenities and activities

6. State of the art Fitness Center & Beauty Salon

7. Best views from the 19th hole, the Look Out Bar & Grill.

8. Country Club living: landscaped swimming pool & whirlpool, lit tennis courts and beach access.

9. Vacation rental program  

10. European flair, American convenience, Latin & Caribbean spice.

Tierra del Sol Resort Spa & Country Club, Aruba. Tel.: (297) 586 7800 

Real Estate & Community Management Office, Tel: (297) 586 1010

Visit the web site: www.tierradelsol.com