Amazing is the name of the restaurant that many people know as The Promenade in San Nicolas. Now remodeled, under new ownership and a new name, the favorite restaurant `p’ariba di brug’ is now open to the public. The new restaurant’s chef is Kurt Hoffmann, who has a wealth of experience behind him. Each day will have Lunch Highlights, with Make your own Pasta as one of the features. Kids will eat for free on Tuesday nights while Friday will be the night for tapas and samplers of mouth-watering main courses. Continuing the grand tradition of The Promenade restaurant, Amazing is going to be the place of choice for the Amazing Champagne Sunday Brunch. The place is available for business parties, Holy Communion parties, Christmas affairs, meetings and caterings on location. Open from 11.30 am till 11 pm, six days a week, with a kitchen that can be best described as `international cuisine at a great price’, the focus will be on the place’s excellent price-quality relation. For more information about Amazing, please call 7309500.

Located at Balashi 55, close to the Drive Inn Theater you will find B55. The new restaurant features international cuisine and fresh seafood with great parking space and during the weekend BBQ with live music. Happy Hour is every Friday from 06.00 till 07.00 pm. B55 is open every day except on Mondays from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. It is available for parties and or other private functions, offering a kids playground with an open terrace and a beautiful view. For more information please contact B55 at (297) 585-2111 or jhwleenslag@yahoo.com

La Terraza Restaurant Café is now located on the first floor of the Mar Azul Marina Mall in downtown. It offers international and local cuisine with a spectacular ocean and bay view and is open daily from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm except on Sundays. For more information please call (297) 583-6046.

Marandi Restaurant, previously located at Surfside Beach, has moved to Bucutiweg # 50, on the pier at the water’s edge, where Laguna Pier was previously located. Excellent dining al fresco under thatch palapas is back again.

Sir James House of Coffee is Aruba’s newest coffee house offering a chic and unique atmosphere. It is located on the second floor of the new Marina Mall located in Oranjestad and open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 10:00pm. It serves signature coffee, a variety of tea’s, sandwiches, cakes, cold & hot chocolate and much more in their indoor lounge or on the terrace enjoying the panoramic view of the harbor area. For more information please call (297) 583-0441 or visit www.sirjamesaruba.com

Beach Grill Barbeque is the new concept at the Westin Aruba Resort. Happening every Monday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm beachfront and costing $35 + taxes. For more information please call (297) 586-4466, ext. 59.

?b>Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino has added a spa menu at Sunset Grille. Executive Chef Matt Boland and Executive Sous Chef Hector of Sunset Grille at Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino are ushering in a new era of modern cuisine in Aruba. It’s the evolution from traditional old world steakhouse with new low calories, low fat spa cuisine. New dishes include Maine Lobster Cocktail with mango, corn, salsa, purple potatoes and citrus chili vinaigrette; and seared fillet of sea bass with fennel and blood orange salad, red pepper polenta and almond aioli. The restaurant continues to garner accolades including the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award and was recently voted the “The Best Restaurant in the Caribbean” by the readers of Caribbean Travel & Life.

El Gaucho Restaurant, Sunset Grille at the Radisson and Madam Jeanette received the Win Spectator Award of Excellence. This award is bestowed on restaurants that offer a “well chosen list with a thematic match to the menu in price and style, with at least 100 selections”. The complete list of awardees can be viewed online at www.winespectator.com

AAA N.V. has been nominated for Global Airport Marketing Award 2007 for the second consecutive year by Official Airline Guide (OAG). This nomination is in the category of fewer than 5 million passengers per year. The ceremony was held during the 13th Annual World Route Development Forum in Stockholm, Sweden. The Global Airport Marketing Award nomination for AAA important are for two reasons: first, airlines get to nominate the airport that made a real difference to their own network planning activity over the last 12 months and second, AAA has been nominated in the toughest category, approximately 950 airports competing in this category and only 5 get nominated.

For more information please contact A.A.A. N.V. at (297) 524-2424.

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) will be sponsoring the regional conference of the “International Federation of Air Traffic Controller’s Association”. Aruba will host the conference from October 31st to November 2nd of 2007. Over 25 member states and international organizations that sum up to approximately 100 people will attend the conference. For more information please contact AAA at 524-2424.

TIARA Air announces their new direct flight schedule between Aruba and Bonaire effective September 12th. Tiara inaugurated the service to Bonaire with six flights and due to a healthy growth will now be operating eight weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. For more information please contact Tiara Air at (297) 58TIARA or visit www.tiara-air.com

Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) is in the process of training and instating an Emergency Response Team (ERT). This team will initially consist of 20 employees of the various airport departments and is intended to provide first aid in case of emergencies. The ERT has been trained and certified on different levels, including First Aid and CPR by the “Nationale Instituut of Bedrijfs Hulpverlening” (NIBHV) in Holland. AAA plans on providing different drill exercises during the year so that the ERT is up to date and ready in case of emergencies. Needed special equipments have also been installed at strategic locations throughout the airport allowing the ERT to have easy access in order to operate efficiently when most needed.
Mr. Hendrik Croes is the new Public Relations Officer at the AAA N.V. and Hill start on August 1st 2007.
AAA N.V. will be expanding the drop off zone of the car rentals in order to improve the flow of traffic upon renting and returning car rentals. The project is scheduled to be finalized in one month.
For more information please contact AAA at (297) 524-2424.

Tiara Air is now providing non stop service to Bonaire, six weekly flights. Besides Bonaire, Tiara services also Curacao and Punto Fijo. For more information please visit www.tiara-air.com or call (297) 588-4272 or (297) 582-0901.

Avior Airlines, a Venezuelan Airline Company, will be increasing service from Venezuela to Aruba during the summer holidays. As of July 18, 2007 through September 16, 2007 there will be three (3) weekly flights from Caracas to Aruba on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday operated with at Boeing 737-200 aircraft with a capacity of 96 seats in economy class and 12 seats in business class. In addition, Avior will be servicing Aruba from Valencia during the period of August 1 through September 16, 2007 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with a similar aircraft, B737-200 with a seating capacity of 108. Tickets for Avior Airlines can be purchased through all local travel agencies and at Avior’s ticket office at the Airport. Avior’s service telephone numbers on island are (297) 583-9040 or (297) 583-1892.

Aserca has launched twice weekly scheduled service from Aruba to Santo Domingo as of July 17, 2007. Flights are on Tuesdays and Saturdays and Aserca will utilize DC-9 aircrafts with a seating capacity of 110 passengers. Aeropostal had been servicing this route from Aruba until April 2006. With the re-launch of scheduled non stop service, AAA hopes that these flights from Aserca will meet leisure and ethnic travel demand between Aruba and Santo Domingo.

Spirit Airlines announces its once a week (Saturday) nonstop service between its Fort Lauderdale base and Aruba, beginning November 10, 2007. Aruba is Spirit’s 23rd destination in the Bahamas, Caribbean and Latin America region, and its 38th destination overall. In addition to nonstop service from its Fort Lauderdale base, Spirit will also offer connecting service to Aruba from its domestic network.

Spa Finder, Inc., the global spa resource, announced that the Larimar Spa at Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino has been named among the top 10 best spas in the world for the “Best Water Sports” category in its fifth annual Spa Finders Readers’ Choice Awards. “The Larimar Spa at Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino has garnered multiple awards in the travel and spa industries after being open less than one year,” states Gary Jutz, general manager of Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino. “The oceanfront facility and its caring staff continue to raise the standards of guest expectations on Aruba and throughout the Caribbean.”

The Aruban Resort & Casino at Eagle Beach is the new name of the former La Cabana Villas and Royal Cabana Casino announced KL Holding Company N.V., owners of the newly acquired time share resort & casino. The property includes a 362 room timeshare and resort hotel consisting of two five-story buildings and two four-story buildings, a 48.000 square foot permanent casino, a restaurant (currently operating as a temporary casino) and recreational amenities. The company will renovate and upgrade each condominium and also redesign and renovate the permanent casino into a state of the art gaming, showroom and restaurant facility. For more information contact Phil Allen at KL Holdings at 303) 898-0625 or at conejo3807@aol.com

Starwood Vacation Ownership recently started with renovations to the roughly two acres, Public Park located immediately to the southwest of the Westin Aruba Resort. The renovated park will include a totally revised landscape plan highlighted by a large grassy area and multipurpose field suitable for camping and public concerts, a new shower facility and vendor booths for water sports and food & beverage outlets. The perimeter of the park will feature native trees and landscaping to provide shady areas. The park renovation is expected to take roughly six months. For more information please visit www.starwoodhotels.com

The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino will “free” a total of 5,000 rubber ducks in the 490 feet long Lazy River, propelled by the pool water in constant motion as a fundraising initiative organized by Marriott’s Stellaris Casino team with all proceeds going to the Animal Rights Aruba (ARA). The rubber ducks are available in 48 different shapes and styles, from Ninja’s and rock star ducks to marine officers and cheerleader ducks and are for sale at $5 each. They can be purchased at the Stellaris Casino, DA Drugstore and at Animal Rights Aruba. The first 25 ducks to reach the finish line will win great prizes. During the event on Saturday October 6th at the Surf Club Pool side there will also be a fun fair, open to the public from 6-9 PM with all kinds of family games and fun activities, live music and of course food and drinks. Entrance to the Fun Fair is free; tickets at $1 each can be purchased to participate in the several games and activities. Currently a donation box is placed at Stellaris Casino, raising additional funds for the ARA. More information on the rubber duck race and the Fun Fair at Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club is available at Stellaris Casino at (297) 520 6618 or Animal Rights Aruba at (297) 588 7709.

The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino now also has a website with information on the ongoing renovations at the resort. For more information please visit www.arubaplayground.com

Ocean 105 is the new unique Aruban oceanfront guesthouse offering a cozy ambiance with stunning view. The complex is located in the Malmok area, close to all main attractions. It consists of three very spacious two bedroom, two bathroom apartments comfortably accommodating six and a one bedroom apartment that sleeps four with a sofa bed. It has a brand new fully equipped kitchen, teak and rattan furniture, Wi-Fi internet service and on site laundromat. For more information, rates and reservations please visit www.arubaoceanfront.com or call Lynn Maduro, Owner & Operator, at (297) 593-9978.

Bucuti Beach Resort & Tara Beach Suites’ environmental program was used as the example for Caribbean Hoteliers at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Conference (CHTC). Environmentalist and Hotelier Ewald Biemans was introduced as the example to Hoteliers throughout the Caribbean for his extensive and successful sustainable tourism business model for his hotels, the Bucuti Beach Resort and Tara Beach Suites, recently in Miami, Florida. Biemans was invited to present and be a panelist at a seminar organized by the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) titled: “Environmental Management Systems” whereby CAST released a CHA-CTO Joint position paper on Global Climate Change and the Caribbean Tourism Industry. Moderator Deirdre P. Shurland, Director of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) introduced Biemans as “a pioneer and a success story for environmental preservation in the industry” and his resort “a glowing example for all Caribbean Hoteliers”. Biemans presented his case study of Bucuti Beach Resort’s achievements in sustainability and Green Globe 21 and ISO 14001 certifications. Biemans presented his viewpoint as an hotelier / environmental activist.

The Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Aruba has been completed. New tiling, new bathroom appliances, modern kitchens with granite tops, and all furniture and soft furnishings have been replaced, the TVs have been replaced in not only the Standard Studios but in every room by Flat Screen TVs. The look of the room is more modern, yet in keeping with the architectural style of the hotel. Dark wood furniture and cream colored bed spreads and curtains give the room the perfect sophisticated feel and look. Renovation of the remaining rooms is already in process. The renovation is taking place in a structured manner. By taking out an entire block, guests will not be staying in a room adjacent to another room being renovated. All lounges have been replaced around the pool, the chairs and bar stools at the Sunset Upper-Deck Bar, with more comfortable lounges and chairs with softer cushions. The Front Desk has also been completely renovated, and features a fresh and modern look. The renovation is expected to be fully completed by late fall 2007. For more information please call The Amsterdam Manor at (297) 527-1100 or visit www.AmsterdamManor.com/en/photos.html

A resort of choice for divers and home to the recently named Conde Nast Traveler Hot List honoree, Radisson Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino announces Scuba in Aruba Packages showcasing the island’s underwater world for discovery. The popularity of scuba diving continues to grow with 924,270 divers certified worldwide in 2006, according to PADI, and now beginners can immerse themselves with a seven-night Learn to Dive Program starting at $2,899* and earn PADI open water certification. The Learn to Dive Program encompasses all equipment and includes accommodations, diving and instruction, tanks, weight belts and a welcome martini at the open-air Mira Solo. For the ultimate experience, Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino is offering experienced divers a seven-night Unlimited Diving package with rates beginning at $2,889* including accommodations, unlimited dives and a cocktail at the resort’s popular martini bar. Both package rates based on double occupancy. Shorter packages of three and five-nights are also available. All dive instruction and activities are through Unique Sports, a Five Star Gold Palm/National Geographic facility located at the resort. For more information and reservations, call Radisson Hotels & Resorts at (800) 333-3333 or visit www.radisson.com/aruba . Guests booking Scuba in Aruba Packages should contact Unique Sports prior to arrival to schedule dives at (297) 586-6555 x 6597 or unique@radissonaruba.com

The Pearl Condominiums, now under construction, located close to the Eagle Beach will consist of 25 private condominium residences with all the luxuries and amenities of a five star boutique hotel. For more information please visit www.arubapearl.com or call (297) 594-5000 or (800) 625-6875 in the US.

RIU Palace Aruba accommodated its first guests during the third week of July. RIU had its soft opening on the 20th of July offering tropical landscaped grounds, an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, an exciting Casino, on-site PADI dive and water sports center, car rental, beauty salon, gift shop and a choice of restaurants including a beach bar and grill. For more information please visit www.riuaruba.com or call (888) 774-0040 or (305) 774-0040 or in Aruba (297) 526-3990

Every year, Aruba’s underwater world changes shape. Taking place at very specific evenings in September, great numbers of coral colonies synchronize the broadcast of packets of eggs and sperm, which mingle in the open ocean to produce their young.

Described by scuba divers as something like an underwater snowstorm, these millions upon millions of packets of reproductive cells can form great pink and white clouds underwater, and are seen as pink slicks on the water the next day.

It is thought that this synchronized spawning increases the chances of eggs being fertilized, and overwhelms the many organisms that prey on coral eggs and larvae. There are so many in the water that there is no way that all can be eaten.

Even though it is difficult to predict exactly when the spawning takes place, chances of seeing this wonder of nature are best during Red Sail Sports’ night dives on 10, 13 and 17 September. Locals receive a 30% discount at most of Red Sail Sports’ activities. Mention ‘coral spawning’ and rent an underwater flash light for free!

Red Sail Sports is Aruba’s largest full-service Dive and Watersports operator. More information about Red Sail Sports can be found on www.redsailaruba.com or via telephone 583-1603.