Aruban-born designer,Percy Irausquin is thrilled to be making his Oscar debut at the 2008 awards show Sunday February 24, 2008.

Oranjstad, Keep an eye out for the Caribbean heat on the red carpet at the 80th annual Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday, as Oscar-nominated writer/director/producer Suzy Templeton will be wearing hot, young Aruban designer, Percy Irausquin.

The British nominee will be draped in a stunningly beautiful, bright evening gown from Irausquin’s collection (an image of the design is attached here.)  Strong, spectacular femininity is Percy’s trademark style and he has honed is talent in famed fashion houses including that of Christian Lacroix.  Templeton is nominated in the Best Animated Short Film category for “Peter & the Wolf.”

The Aruban-born designer, Irausquin, 39, lives in Holland but draws inspiration from his beautiful, tropical homeland and is thrilled to be making his Oscar debut at the 2008 awards show.  His line, Prc..by Percy Irausquin, has its headquarters in Amsterdam and his creations are also available for sale in his native Aurba.

“This is a big breakthrough.  I hope to win,” said Irausquin.  “This is the first step on the red carpet of the world.

From September 23-25, 2008, the world will come to Aruba.

Aruba will then be the host of the IX Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean. The Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean is an annual activity aimed at fostering trade and investments in the region. The event is divided into three parts, a seminar with interactive sessions, the holding of business meetings among the participating entrepreneurs, and an exhibition of products and services.

Interactive Conference
An interactive conference is an integral part of the event, because market access is not enough to enhance trade. It is necessary to increase mutual knowledge among countries in the Greater Caribbean region in order to make maximum use of business opportunities. The activity thus provides the space for the participants to develop mutual relations and discuss trade issues together with governmental authorities and other experts in this field.

Business Meetings
The event provides the entrepreneurs of the region with the opportunity to establish contacts with their counterparts through business meetings planned according to the interests of the participants.

Exposition
There will also be an opportunity for entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services for participants all over the world. There will be space available for different stands at the venue.

The Business Forum is an event of the Association of Caribbean States, a regional organization of which Aruba is an associated member. This event is organized to consolidate an enhanced space for trade and investment in the region and to increase and strengthen trade relations among the Countries of the Greater Caribbean region. Because of the trade relations that Aruba has outside the Caribbean region, this event will also target the European, South American, Asian and North American region.

Indicators of the Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean
An average of the participation

Individual Participants            300
Companies and Institutions        200
Countries                     17

The ACS Business Forum in Aruba is an initiative of the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry (DEACI) and the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. The Organizing Committee however is a public-private partnership between the DEACI, the Aruba Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Aruba Tourism Authority.

Eco Destination Management just recently announced that as part of its 20th year anniversary celebration the company will be going green and becoming a champion of sustainable tourism and environmental protection.

Founder Wichita Villacres, owner and CEO outlined the company’s commitment to green practices in the wake of a similar announcement she made in reference to PRA Destination Management, ECO’s sister company in South East Florida, which has already made its green commitment public in 2007.

Villacres who founded her company in Aruba in 1987, has been servicing the island’s meeting and convention market with creativity and flair which she combines with a deep commitment to the community.

In addition to her involvement with her business and her family, Villacres is always working in a number of organizations on the betterment of the tourism industry here and the island in general.

In a recent press release she revealed that as part of the company’s effort to promote green practices ECO volunteered Glenda Henricus, one of its top associates, as its representative within the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association Environmental Committee.

Glenda is also in charge of research within the company and will develop a green plan of action which will be implemented this year.

The plan, reports Villacres will transport green practices into everyday life, in the office, at home and in the community at large.

In servicing the meetings and convention markets here ECO pledges to deliver cost-saving green practices to decrease energy use and conserve natural resources.

Going green, says Villacres, needn’t be a costly option. ECO believes it is everyone’s responsibility to get involved — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to conserve the planet for future generations. Villacres has also taken the initiative to create and provide her clients with a series of off-site daytime “green eco-activities” designed to be enjoyed around Aruba’s scenic parts. “Our commitment to our destination is to collaborate with our suppliers and hoteliers to ensure green service to our clients”, concludes Villacres
ECO, she reiterates, is leading by example with the utilization of recycled paper products, with insistence on trash recycling and the regular use of china and stainless steel utensils, which conserves water and energy. ECO’s office staff also participate in an internal car-pool program.

ECO, states Villacres is determined to educate its staffers about the environment, including global warming and other ecological threats and will encourage them in turn to educate their clients, their friends, and their family members. And ECO, she explains will continue to make annual donations to environmental causes — the AHATA Environment Committee was the recipient for 2007.

In the spirit of think globally and act locally ECO just pledged to adopt Bushiribana Gold Mine Ruins, and participate in seasonal cleaning and conservation activities.

Villacres’ initiative is right in line with the thinking of Ewald Biemans President of the Board of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association and Rob Smith President and CEO of that organization.

With Bucuti Beach Resort, Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, Costa Linda Beach Resort, and La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club leading the pack as Green Globe Certified Resorts, Aruba Beach Club, Manchebo Beach Resort, and Playa Linda Beach Resort also joined the initiative and became Green Globe certified. Most other hotels have some conservation programs already in place.

Recently, Ewald Biemans presented a directive to Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA) President and CEO Rob Smith to double the number of Green Globe certified hotels on the island by 2008 and to make the entire island 100% Green Globe compliant by 2009.

ECO Destination Management is prepared, in compliance with the vision of Aruba as a 100% Green Destination.

(Pictured here Villacres with the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association members of the Environmental Committee, as Fanny O’Neil & Astrid Muller accept a donation designed to support their Ban on Plastic Bag campaign.)

Minister of Tourism, Mr. Edison Briesen commends AAA and its business partners

On Friday February 15, 2008 in the presence of representatives of airlines, concessionaires and other business partners of Aruba Airport Authority N.V., the Minister of Tourism officially handed over to AAA’s Managing Director Mr. Peter Steinmetz the state decree extending AAA’s concession with ten more years.

The state decree gives AAA N.V. the exclusive right to manage and operate the Queen Beatrix International Airport. AAA was originally appointed as general concessionaire at the time the former government department that operated the airport was transformed into a separate legal entity back in 1997. The original concession term of twenty years has now been prolonged with another ten years until December 31, 2026.

The minister of Tourism and Transportation said “that many changes to the better were implemented in the last four years. By extending the concession we show our trust and confidence in the Aruba Airport Authority N.V. and its business partners”.

Managing Director, Peter Steinmetz said “that the extension is a very welcome support to continue on the chosen path and that it will further ensure investors and other stakeholders that AAA will be their business partner for many more years ahead.”

Formerly part of La Cabana All-Suite Resort, the Aruban Resort & Casino is currently undergoing a complete reinvention, and all villas will be decorated in a chic Caribbean motif with new flooring, bathrooms, furniture, and modern kitchens with granite countertops. The renovation project will also include new swimming pools, dining options, and a proposed entertainment complex.

Located at Eagle Beach, the recently-flagged Aruban Resort & Casino is offering vacationers an impressive inventory of one, two, and three bedroom villas-each with a living room and kitchen.and they are making it easy by doing it the old-fashioned way: fixed price/fixed units. “We are not bogging people down with points, games, and all that confusing sales jargon; at the Aruban Resort it is simple-you buy it, it’s yours forever,” said a member of the sales team.

Photos show the new model villa at the Aruban Resort & Casino. For more information or to schedule an appointment and a personal tour call 527-9116.

Story submitted by Rona Coster

Oranjestad Kunsthuis Art Foundation is proud to represent the recent collection of Grace van Balkom-de Cuba. The collection will be on exhibition at the Mar Azul Gallery from Feb. 22 until March 5, 2008. The general public is invited for the official opening ceremony to be held on Friday February 22nd starting at 8:00 pm. The artist is currently at the gallery Mon-Fri. from 10:00am to 5:00 pm for personal tours or to work on her new art work.

Grace van Balkom-de Cuba, an Aruban born autodidact painter. She worked for twelve years as a vocational Spanish teacher before she discovered her passion for painting in 1971 after visiting an art exhibition from artist Pieter Vervoord. In 1976 she moved to Holland and has been living there ever since. She does spends 3 months a year on Aruba where she enjoys sketching and painting her “delightful island.” At her workshop in Holland you will always hear Caribbean music while she is painting her “old fashioned” Aruban houses, seasides and landscapes. Her first exhibition was organized by the Cas di Cultura Aruba in 1974, after that she had various exhibitions in Aruba and Holland. Some of her paintings are also part of the permanent collection of the Museum of New York University at the exhibition of primitive painters from the Caribbean.

Oranjestad Kunsthuis Art Foundation, with its new location at the Mar Azul Gallery (Marina Mall) also housing a generous work studio, is a non profit foundation currently working with more than 100 local and international artists, members, advisers and a global network contributing to the development and promotion of Aruba’s contemporary art movement. Its talented team, directed by founder and artist Gilbert Senchi under the expertise of Alice van Romondt (Prince Bernhard Funds & National Museum of History, Editorial Charuba) and Malayca Bufalini Rasmijn as PR representative, is dedicated to providing a comprehensive forum for contemporary art and support artists via a multi-faceted mission spanning the realms of gallery exhibitions, public programming, professional development and arts-in-education.

Located in the Marina Mall street level, in the area of Aruba’s sparkling night, luxury shopping district and the Oranjestad dazzling harbor port, the gallery affords a diverse array of professional and underserved artists the opportunity to produce and exhibit work in the heart of Aruba’s vibrant art district. The foundation’s operations and programs are made possible with the generous support of foundations, corporations, government agencies, individuals and the media in general. Entrance is free and appointments are recommended.

Surf at www.marazulgallery.com for information on art news and art events on the island.

T: 588-ARTE / Admin: 563-4574 / appointments T: 742-7482: gilbertsenchi@yahoo.com

Colegio E.P.I. Sector di Hospitalidad & Turismo den cooperación cu EPB, Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association y tambe Aruba Gastronomic Association, ta den full preparación cu e organización di e proximo “Aruba Internacional Student Culinary Expo 2008”. E evento, lo tin como meta principal pa trece studiantenan tanto local como internacional hunto y asina expone nan expertisio den e ramo culinario. E comisión rganizador ta kere firmemente den incentiva nos hubentud especialmente den e sector turistico, kendenan lo ta e futuro profesionalnan den e industria aki. E skolnan cu lo participa na e evento aki ta  EPI y EPB(Aruba), FEFFIK(Curacao), SBO(Bonaire).

E programa oficial lo inicia dia 16 di Maart, 2008, na unda lo bay tin e apertura Oficial den e Collegezaal di E.P.I.. Después lo sigi un sesion di orientation y tambe lo bay tin unguest speaker, kende lo bay conversa encuanto di e industria aki y e beneficionan cu esaki ta trece cu ne. Después lo sigi cu e competencianan y tambe workshops. Durante ora di anochi, Aruba Tourism Authority & Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association lo organiza un recepcion di bon bini na honor di tur e studiantenan, nan mentornan, e huradonan internacional como tambe medionan di prensa tanto local como internacional. E huradonan internacional, lo ta Chef nan reconoci di e American Culinary Federation kendenan lo ta responsable pa saka e equipo ganador den e diferente categorianan.

E programa lo continua dia 17 di Maart cu otro dia di competencia y workshop. Después di esaki e studiantenan lo disfruta di un paseo cortico rond di Aruba pa asina yudanan kita un tiki di e tension di e competencia den un ambiente ameno. Durante parti di atardi, e grupo completo di studiante lo bay hasi un Back Of The House Tour & Dinner, cual lo encera tira un vista den e cushina na algun restaurant cu ta miembro di Aruba Gastronomic Association. Meta di esaki ta pa asina logra haña un impresión di con un cushina di un top restaurant na Aruba ta funciona. E atardi lo culmina cu un cena pa henter e grupo.

E dia importante pa tanto e alumnonan como tambe tur persona cu ta gusta purba bon cuminda, lo bira dia 18 di Maart, na unda for di 12:00 -5:00 PM, e studiantenan lo tin e oportunidad pa expone nan platonan na tur presente. Tambe lo bai tin diferente tipo di entretenimiento y e oportunidad di cumpra cuminda y bebida, en connecion cu e dia nacional aki, mezclando un tiki di nos cultura cu nos hubentud. E Culinary EXPO aki lo tuma lugar ariba e patio amplio di EPI Hospitalidad y Turismo. Esnan interesa pa tin un tent pa ofrecde na publico nan productonan ta mas cu bon bini pa participa.

Ariba e mesun dia aki, for di  8:00 PM en adelante, lo bay tin e grandioso “Awards Night” cual lo carga e nomber “A taste of Aruba” na unda publico en general por bin presencia e resultadonan di e competencia y wak cua equipo lo bira ganador absoluto di e grandioso premio cual ta e participación na e National Convention di e American Culinary Federation cu lo tuma lugar e aña aki na Las Vegas, Nevada. Pa yuda recauda fondo pa yuda e equipo ganador y continua cu e tremendo competencia aki, lo bende ticket di entrada pa e “Awards Night” na un valor di Afls 50,- p/p. Durante e anochi aki lo por disfruta di bebida y di diferente platonan ofreci pa entre otro e diferente prestigioso restaurant miembronan di Aruba Gastronomic Association.

E comisión organizador kier a tuma e oportunidad tambe pa gradici Tiarra Air, cu e prijs special cu nan a ofrece na e participantenan internacional, tambe na The Mill Resort, kende ta contribui cu e kambernan pa e huradonan di American Culinary Federation cu lo supervisa e competencia, y tambe e prensa local y internacional. Tambe un palabra di danki na Aruba Adventures cu nan Kookukunukoo Bus y tambe e gerencia di Coconut Inn, kende a ofrece un prijs hopi special na tur e studiantenan y nan familiaresnan.

Un biaha mas Colegio EPI, EPB, Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association y tambe Aruba Gastronomic Association kier tambe gradici un y tur cu te awor a duna nan aporte pa cu e evento aki.  Pa por hasi un evento di tal magnitud naturalmente ta rekeri e coperacion di industria en general. Pa e motibo aki si tin cualkier compania of organizacion cu kier contribui of aporta na e futuro generacion di nos industria di hospitalidad y turismo, of cu kier ricibi cualkier información di e evento, por tuma contacto libremente cu Sr. Ryan Maduro, Opleidingsmanager na EPI unidad Hospitalidad y Turismo na telefon 5258713, 5624924, of na e-mail rmaduro.epi@hotmail.com of aisce2008@hotmail.com

The E.P.I (Hospitality & Tourism Sector) with the cooperation of EPB, Aruba Tourism Authority, Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association and the Aruba Gastronomic Association, are in full preparations for the upcoming “ Aruba International Student Culinary Exposition 2008”. The main purpose of this event, is to bring both local and international students together, to expose their culinary know how. The organizing committee strongly believes in encouraging students to continue with their studies through these types of incentives, especially the ones in the tourism sector. The participating teams for this year event are; FEFFIK from Curacao, SBO from Bonaire and EPI & EPB from Aruba.

The event will be taking place from March 16 to the 18th. The program will consist different activities such as official opening, orientation session, a forum with an International guest speaker, the different competitions and workshops, visit the “back of the house” of different Aruban restaurants, an exposition and finally the gala awards presentation and the popular “Taste of Aruba” where people can savor one of the many culinary specialties offered by the different Aruban restaurants.

For more information about the event, please contact Mr. Ryan Maduro, Dean for the Hospitality and Tourism Sector at rmaduro.epi@hotmail.com or aisce2008@hotmail.com

Ad Agency Review Results in Selection of New Firm Based in New York City with Clients Including, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Milk, XM Radio & More.

The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) has announced the appointment of a new advertising agency, Lowe New York.  The exciting news came February 8, when, after six months of searching for an advertising agency, ATA appointed Lowe New York to head up all of Aruba’s advertising in North America.  ATA began the government mandated advertising agency review in July 2007 with the assistance of 10 partners from the public and private sectors, and guidance from AAR Partners, a review specialist company.  AAR Partners is a third-party, industry-recognized consultant that provided counsel and expertise in the agency selection.  The process started with over 45 contending agencies and it was then narrowed to five exceptional firms from around the country.  After months of chemistry meetings, work sessions, conference calls and presentations, the much anticipated final decision was announced.  Lowe New York’s work with ATA officially starts April 1, 2008.

Underscoring the island’s commitment to continuous improvement, the government mandated review requires a periodic review of all agency partners to ensure the best service, value and fit with the marketing objectives, goals and core beliefs of ATA.  This serves as a tool to examine ATA’s current capabilities and identify its emerging priorities.  Lowe New York will now be charged to meet all of the goals of Aruba’s advertising including enhancing the brand of the island’s tourism sector, reaching its core audience, and meeting strategic business objectives.  The main qualities for selecting a new agency were excellent strategic insights and thinking, the strong chemistry and fit with the Aruba team, thought-provoking ideas and a global perspective.

Four other impressive agencies made the final round, including Fort Lauderdale-based Zimmerman and Partners, New York’s Cossette Communication Group, Euro RSCG Worldwide, out of Baltimore and the incumbent Fitzgerald + CO, from Atlanta.  ATA’s decision to go in another direction was not an easy one.  Fitzgerald + CO has over 10 years of partnership and friendship invested in the island and is regarded as a highly creative partner that has, time and again, exemplified total dedication and commitment to the destination, regularly going above and beyond the call of duty.  Fitzgerald + CO has created and launched various successful ad campaigns for Aruba over the last decade including the slogan “Where Happiness Lives,”  the renowned “Charly from Aruba” radio spots and the most recent “Rumba Aruba” television ads.

“ATA is very much looking forward to the excitement of a fresh start and new beginning working with our new partners at Lowe New York,” said Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, managing director for the Aruba Tourism Authority.  “The decision was a difficult one and all of the finalists were strong and creative firms vying for the business.  We are confident that our detailed review process has brought us to the ideal candidate to handle our advertising in the U.S. and we are looking forward to a partnership with Lowe that will be successful and productive.”