The Aruba Aloe Products design team, Lodge Design, recently won two Gold Rings at the Brass Ring Awards Show for the website and packaging it developed for Aruba Aloe’s Island Remedy collection. “The AdClub’s annual awards competition recognizes the brightest in advertising and design excellence in Indiana” said Ad Club President John Scofield. Working closely with the Aruba Aloe team, Lodge Design studied the growing marketplace and identified an opportunity to leverage the history and tradition of this earthy product. For more information please visit www.arubaaloe.com or call (297) 588-3222.

Señor Frogs Restaurant & Bar now offers a great variety of themed events & nights such as the Mexican Night every Wednesday at 6:00pm. $40 per person will get you transportation from hotel to Sr. Frogs back to hotel, a 4 course dinner with live Mariachi show, a welcome shot, an 18 oz Yard of Margarita and $2 XX beer all night.  Thursday is “Downtown Shopping Tour” day from 9:00am till 2:00pm where participants will be able to get 15%-20% discount at over 95 different stores. Lunch, fiesta and transportation are included for the price of $25 per person. For reservations call (297) 582-0355 or (297) 582-0390 or visit www.senorfrogsaruba.com.

La Terraza Restaurant Café located at the marina Mall (Mar Azul) second floor now offers many great dining options for the entire week. Daily “Early Bird Dinner” for $17.95 from 5:30pm till 7:30pm, “All you can eat pasta night” on Mondays for $19.95 (Includes a free glass of wine). Wednesdays is “Aruban Night” with a full 3 course typical local cuisine dinner with a free glass of wine for $19.95 and on Fridays, “All you can eat ribs” for $17.95. (Regular menu is also available during all especially themed nights). For more information please call: (297) 583-6046. Open for lunch and dinner from 11:00am to 11:00pm.

The season of White Gold, Dutch Asparagus, is here and both Mathilde and Madame Janette restaurants are featuring outstanding dishes using this delicious vegetable. Remember, it is available for a limited time only.  outstanding dishes. For more information please call: Mathilde at (297) 583-9200 or visit www.matildearuba.com or call Madam Janette at (297) 587-0184 or visit www.madamejanette.com.

TomCar Excursions is Aruba’s newest activity which was built to bring the adventure of off-roading to everyone. You can choose to visit the Natural Pool, the Baby beach or the North Coast with ease. Each TomCar has the following the safety features: Roll cage and frame welded as one single unit, four-point, racing-type safety belts, high all around ground clearance and 4-wheel independent suspension. Private tours are available upon request and must be a minimum of 8 people; prices vary based upon routes chosen. For reservations please call(297) 585-0027 or (297) 734-1065 or email info@arubaoffroad.com.

AruAnti Art Expo 2008 is a project consisting of an exhibition of 30 paintings from Aruban artists Elvis Tromp and Edmond Tujeehut (who are planning on organizing it annually) and will take place on Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The schedule of the exhibition, which is already in progress started on Curacao at the Curacao Museum in April with the next stop being Bonaire at the Kas di Arte from May to June. The expo will be in Aruba at the Cas di Cultura in September. “The main objective of this project is to present images by means of paintings which will emphasize the commonality between the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba” expressed Tromp and Tujeehut.

Currently on display is the duo Exposition: Aruba, Day & Night. An exhibition with oil paintings from artist Joseph Miklojcik and photographs from Dick Miller. The exhibition can be seen at the Toyota Art Gallery 168 and will be on display till June 4th 2008. The Toyota Art Gallery is located at the L.G. Smith Blvd. 114 (Behind the CMB). For more information please call (297) 738-0168 or email artgallery168@gmail.com.

“Arte y Historia di Nos Aruba” is the name of the current exposition at Van Dorp Book & Office Dakota, Avenida Milo J. Croes # 21. It is the first exhibit from local artist Franco Koolman and will be on display until the end of this month. For more information please call Van Dorp Book & office at (297) 582-3076.

Mr. Jazz Club presents “The Masters” live! Aruba’s Jazz greats will perform Friday, May 30th starting at 8.00pm with seating starting at 7.30pm. Performances by Jazz legends Mr. Ivan Quandus, Placido Hazel, Delbert Bernabela, Franklin Granadillo, Carlos Bislip, Johnny Scharbaay with special guest Mr. Tommy Halman. Entrance fee is Afls. 35, - ($20) and appropriate attire required. Mr. Jazz is located at the Paseo Herencia across the Holiday Inn Resort. For more information or tickets please contact Cliffix at (297)582-9660, Mrs. Ingird Bislip at (297) 592-8721 or Mr. Carlos Bislip at (297) 592-6449.

Dimensione Turismo, an Italian based company and the Aruba government signed an agreement for direct weekly charter flights from Milan. Scheduled to begin in October 2008 until May 2009, they will use an Airbus 330 with a capacity of 297 seats.

The Queen Beatrix International Airport has seen continued double digit percentage traffic growth and revenue generating passenger (RGP) figures on a monthly basis during this first quarter of 2008. March 2008 was AAA’s busiest RGP month ever, with the previous record holding month dating as far back as April 2000. USA/Canada, Antilles, Europe and Latin America grew when compared to first quarter 2007. North America continues to see passenger growth and higher occupancies per flight. Seasonal service from Canada, both Toronto and Montreal have been strong and will resume next winter. AAA’s key focus for North America will be to maintain current air service levels for 2008 and 2009.

The Aruba resort and Casino at the Eagle Beach recently announced its affiliation with Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services. “We are delighted to partner with Interval International because of its outstanding programs and services that are renown in the industry. The ability to exchange into Interval’s high quality worldwide network of resorts significantly enhances our owners’ vacation flexibility as well as their ownership value propositions” said Farzin Ferdosi, managing director of the Aruban Resort & Casino. For more information please call: (297) 587-9000 or visit www.thearuban.com.

Brickell Bay Beach Club has recently completed the remodeling of their lobby area, the Bistro and the reception area to improve the guests’ check-in experience. Brickell Bay is also renovating 16 guestrooms which are scheduled to be completed late July 2008. Brickell Bay will also include an Intermezzo Spa which is scheduled to be completed in June 2008. Total cost of renovation is close to $750.000. For more information please call Brickell Bay Beach Club at (297) 586-0900 or visit www.brickellbayaruba.com.

Both the Divi & Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive resorts are offering three new packages to suite vacationers with their ideas of their perfect island vacations. Vacationers have now the ability to choose from Golf getaways, honeymoon packages and family packages. For more information on the specific packages and what they include please call: (297) 582-4150 or visit www.diviaruba.com or www.tamarijnaruba.com.

The Aruba Marriott Resort started phase 2 of their renovations. The remaining North Tower rooms will be renovated and completed in addition to the expansion and redesigning of the La Vista Restaurant.  The renovations will have little effect on the guest’s experience. La Vista restaurant is closed for a complete transformation, adding additional seating capacity and e new look and feel inline with the remainder of the resort. The North Tower enhancements will include turning the 8th floor of the resort in to Trade winds Club. This hotel within a hotel initiative, set to open September 2008, introduces a boutique hotel in a resort setting that provides for personalized service and exclusive amenities. The Marriott Resort has now become 100% smoke-free with the exception of the Casino. Guests will only be permitted to smoke in the open air restaurant, lounges, balconies and Casino. For more information please contact Marriott at (297) 586-9000 or visit www.arubaplayground.com.
Marriott now also offers Salsa Night every Saturday at the Lobby bar. Enjoy free salsa workshop with Pachanga, Aruba’s Champion salsa performers, starting at 9.00pm till 10.00pm.

Del Rey Apartments complex, consisting of 12 spacious one and two fully equipped and furnished bedroom apartments, opened its doors at Kamay 19-A, located conveniently close to Aruba’s great beaches. Del Rey has partnered with Moomba Beach Bar & Restaurant, providing Del Rey guests with beach lounges and discounts. For more information please call (297) 586-3309 or (297) 593-4501 or visit www.delreyaruba.com.

Percy Irausquin, Aruba’s famous designer based in The Netherlands won the prestigious Dutch Designer of the Year for 2008! After competing with many other fashion designers, Percy received the coveted title and award which also features additional prizes such free Dom Perignon Champagne AND Porsche for a year.

Louella Brezovar was recently promoted to Hotel Manager at the Aruba Marriot resort & Stellaris Casino. Two years ago Louella joined the Aruba Marriott as Resident Manager, after working as Director of Operations at the Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino.

Mr. Hugo Themen, Aruban Amateur Weightlifter will be inducted in the “Pan American Masters Hall of Fame” during the 22nd annual Pan American Masters Weightlifting Championship held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Mr. Themen has is the first Aruban athlete to be inducted. Mr. Themen will receive his nomination plaque alongside other international athletes during the official ceremony night held during the week of the 10th till the 13th of July.

AAA N.V. is proud to announce that now KLM and Martinair passengers can use the Common Use Self Service (CUSS) check-in kiosks to check in and print their own boarding passes.

AAA N.V.’s CUSS program is open to all airlines whose check in software is compatible with AAA N.V.’s CUSS kiosks. KLM and Martinair are the first that have signed up and AAA has placed four CUSS check-in kiosks in the Non-US check-in area. AAA N.V. expects to install similar kiosks in the US Check-in area as well. Several major US airlines are very interested to offer their passengers this service. When the first US airline will sign up, AAA N.V. will start a pilot with a limited number of hotels, placing these Self Service Check-In kiosks in the lobbies of these hotels, improving the airport product upon departure and reducing queuing time at the airport.

The start screen shows the logos of all participating airlines. The passenger selects his airline on the touch screen to start the check-in software of that airline. He then identifies himself with a passport or credit card and performs the check-in. After printing his boarding pass, he can proceed to a baggage drop-off point where his boarding pass is scanned and the required number of baggage tags is printed and attached to the luggage.

Although many airports and airlines all over the world have implemented self service check-in kiosks, Aruba’s airport is the first airport in the Caribbean to have this service.

AAA N.V. trusts that this new check-in point will further upgrade AAA N.V.’s service to the airport users and reduce the waiting lines for the check-in counters during peak times!