After the first Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival held in August of 2007, a wave of positivism got hold of the festival’s office. A fresh breeze of new music and unity through music filled the corners of Aruba’s attraction scenery.

As all of nature’s elements are unpredictable a strict evaluation was held by the Caribbean Sea Foundation to improve the next edition of the festival even more. Now she is proud to officially announce the next edition of the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival to be held on September 5th and 6th on the grounds of Cas di Cultura.

Once again national and international artist will unite to provide two days of mind-blowing concerts. Following last year’s success, this year the festival will also feature an art exposition in the Expo Hall of Cas di Cultura and F&B stands on the festival site.

The national artists include Roy Croes, Eddy Samson, Nel Scholten, Ivan Quandus and Reload, just to name a few. International guest artists are amongst others Paoli Mejias, Reno Steba, Yuri Honing Wired Paradise, Moon Baker and The Ploctones.

Tickets will be available starting the first of August The price per ticket is $45.

See www.caribbeanseajazz.com for updates and the latest news.

Members of the Maduro & Curiel Banking group bid farewell to retiring Canadian-born banker Bill Carson, General Managing Director, Caribbean Mercatile Bank, the group’s financial institute in Aruba, while congratulating veteran Managing Director Javier Wolter on the addition of General to his job description, and business cards, as Bill’s successor.

Among those attending the mega party at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa, MCB banking legend from Curacao, Lio Capriles I, MCB’s current President and CEO, Lionel (Chicu) Capriles II, government ministers, members of Parliament, members of the business community, many friends, neighbors and colleagues.

The party at the Radisson transformed the Grand Caribbean Ballroom into a trendy lounge, and featured at the heart of the festivities short, yet meaningful addresses by Chicu, Bill and Javier, as well as Rob Smith, President & CEO of the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, who thanked Bill for his many contributions and great involvement in tourism.

All speakers also acknowledged Joy Carson’s role in making the couple’s two decades in Aruba so fruitful, as an activist with the Women’s Club – Aids Committee, and with Family Planning.

Pictured here Chicu Capriles II, Rob Smith, Bill Carson & Javier Wolter address the elegant crowd of almost 700 local movers and shakers, in the Grand Caribbean Ballroom. Also on stage Joy Carson and Sylvia Wolter.

“With Bill at the helm,” reported Chicu, “I slept like a baby each night, knowing that the bank was safe,” he added, crediting Bill with outstanding business acumen and dedicated community involvement.

“I am today the happiest man I know,” declared Javier, ”I live in a place I love, and I am passionate about my work; I am married to my college sweetheart, I have two gorgeous, healthy children and today, I have been promoted to the job of my dreams.”

The Carsons will be splitting their time between Canada and Miami, also Aruba where their son Justin, an hotelier, is nurturing an excellent career in hospitality.

Gilligan’s Beach Bar & Grill is an all-day, oceanfront dining terrace where breakfast runs into lunch and then chases dinner in an informal, fun ambiance.

The famed seaside terrace at the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa started serving a la carte breakfast every morning just recently, delighting light-eaters with a satisfying selection of favorite breakfast foods, ordered the old fashioned way, a la carte.

For those whose appetites awaken later in the day, and for those who just crave a continental eye-opener of fresh baked Danish, muffins and croissants, escorted by a just-cut fruit cup, Ginger’s Continental Breakfast is a perfect choice.

Also on the menu, Skipper’s breakfast, a most-complete selection, made to order omelets, Eggs Benedict, fruits platters, pancakes and even Aruba’s national favorite Pan Dushi French Toast, irresistible when served flavored with cinnamon, brown sugar and a touch of Vanilla.

True to Gilligan’s island ways lunch is served all hours of the afternoon featuring an extensive menu of Appetizers, Salads, Fajitas, Quesadillas, Spa selections for smart eaters and snackers, just baked Pizzas, Sandwiches, Wraps, Paninis and Burgers.

Gilligan’s fountain drinks offer Malts, Floats and Shakes made with fresh fruits and Haagen Dazs ice-cream, and the restaurant’s drink menu is a foot long listing many delicious smoothies, special cocktails and frozen libations.

Coming off the busy lunch hour, Gilligan’s Beach Bar & Grill boasts only front row seats in the theater of endless gorgeous sunsets at Happy Hour, mixed with live music and award-winning Pina Coladas.

Then when dinner comes around Gilligan’s Beach Bar & Grill’s menu measures up to any of town’s upscale restaurants by serving gourmet seaside cuisine, including Filet Mignon, Rib Eye Steaks, Baby Back Ribs, Fresh Catch of the Day, and a sumptuous Seafood Platter, that’s worth the trip to the beach.

More casual eaters will find their heart’s desire on the menu of Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, Pizzas and Fajitas.

And as if all this is not enough, desserts and after-dinner coffee and cordials are also taken seriously at Gilligan’s Beach Bar & Grill at the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa right on Palm Beach, within walking distance of all the high rise hotels.

You are invited to drop in anytime, from early morning to 11 p.m.

Have a seat, relax, you have arrived at an excellent destination.

Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino scored 89 percent in FreemanGroup’s comprehensive on-site review – three percentage points higher than its record 2006 evaluation and the highest of any resort on the island.

FreemanGroup, a well-respected international consultancy specializing in hospitality/travel industry service standards, bases its yearly report on a detailed two-night inspection of the resort’s entire property, including rooms, housekeeping, food and beverage and leisure activities. The resort’s consistency in all 1,200 standards that FreemanGroup examines led to the island’s highest ranking.

“While the results show that we remain focused on improving the experiences of our guests, our work is never done,” said Paul Gielen, general manager of Renaissance Aruba. “We are always working to improve the resort for our guests. In fact, we have already been receiving positive feedback about our most recent upgrades.”

In recent months, Renaissance Aruba has made significant changes to improve the overall guest experience, including revamping the Renaissance Marina Hotel’s lobby to make it a more open and inviting area for guests to meet and socialize. The resort has also renovated the fitness and business centers at the Renaissance Marina Hotel, and the resort’s spa is currently undergoing a total transformation.

For more information about Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino, visit www.renaissancecaribbeanmediacenter.com

It’s hard to miss the exciting progression as you drive down the Sasakiweg Boulevard on what will soon be the island’s largest casino project. The Aruban Resort & Casino is full-on into several phases of expansion and reinvention, anchored by the ambitious casino facility.

Formerly the Royal Cabana Casino, gone are the signature tinted, mirrored walls that once adorned the building. Current construction will ultimately unveil a modern casino complex marvel unlike anything the island has seen. State-of-the-art gaming and amenities will be on-trend with what’s hot in Las Vegas.

In addition to offering guests the largest casino on Aruba, the facility will also boast a dynamic, American-style sports bar, Vegas-worthy entertainment acts in a deluxe theatre setting, and an interactive “chef’s table” dining concept spearheaded by one of the U.S.’s most prestigious restaurant concept companies.

Completion of the casino is slated for December of this year.

The Aruban Resort & Casino also began a complete renovation of the guest villas, utilizing the talents of U.S. design firm Gil Studios to create a serene, contemporary, Caribbean ambiance to embody a sense of place by employing Aruba’s elements of sun, sand, water, and wind into the décor. New flooring, bathrooms, furniture, fabrics, and modern kitchens and granite countertops are some of the amenities villa owners will have to look forward to. The resort will also be adding an entirely new food court within the resort courtyard, with construction beginning last week.

Current construction will ultimately unveil a modern casino complex marvel unlike anything the island has seen.

The Aruban Resort & Casino is currently undergoing a complete renovation project of the guest villas.

An informal Wing Ceremony introduced the new, just-graduated cabin attendants of Tiara Air. Cabin Crew Manager Mike Hagedoorn, who was also the Cabin Safety Training Course Instructor reports that in November Tiara Air advertised for new cabin attendants in the newspapers and out of the fifty women who applied the top five have just been certified as Tiara Air’s new cabin attendants.

They received their course completion certificates, also signed by Accountable Manager Hubert Zievinger from Hagedoorn. The new cabin attendants received their wing pins from Senior Cabin Attendant Nadine Wernet.

Pictured here Cabin Crew Manager Mike Hagedoorn, Senior Cabin Attendant Nadine Wernet, and veteran cabin crew members Allen Kelly and Luis Cicilia, welcoming the fresh Tiara recruits Indhira Stok, Janely Nicolaas, Mabilene Franken, Alis Brunk and Jahaira Lopez, who have just been qualified to fly the company’s Short SD3-60.

Tiara Air has just entered into an operating lease agreement with AeroCentury Corporation, out of Burlingame, California, for the lease of two Swedish-built SAAB 340A turboprop aircraft which will facilitate the company’s plan for expansion.

The new crew members will also make the ambitious and far reaching map of future Tiara Air destinations possible.

The change in name from Human Resources to Talent Resources comes as no surprise for anyone familiar with the Westin brand, as the chain spends equal amounts of creative energy on satisfying its guests and satisfying its associates.

Here on the island the Westin Aruba Resort recently announced a new and exciting initiative to help further develop associates for the hotel and for Starwood in general.

The program is based on personal mentoring and guidance, as 12 carefully-selected hotel associates will be sponsored over the next six months, by professional coaches, namely their own department heads.

Greta de Cuba and Monique Zaandam in charge of the Associates Development Program report that Westin is dedicated to help its associates reach their full potential. The company is also interested in growing the pool of talent for future open positions and aims at providing associates with more career opportunities. The personal mentoring and guidance will deliver the necessary training to enhance performance and help the resort keep the brand promises.

The involvement in the Associate Development Program covers a cross section of the resort as General Manager Matt Balcik will also be sponsoring Rosa Provence, who is the public area coordinator for the housekeeping department.

The program had forty-one applicants, the first time out, and it will be offered on an ongoing basis. Pictured here the program’s first public announcement.

Eezee Lizzy debuted Monday morning at the Westin Aruba Resort. The green visitor took his first stroll into the Bon Bini Restaurant, shook hands and left an indelible impression on little ones who rushed to meet and greet the lizard as it sauntered in.

The new mascot, true to Westin’s vision, created an engaging and memorable moment as children insisted on introducing their parents, also enquiring what the lizard’s name was. The young visitors will never forget meeting Eezee Lizzy over breakfast, helping make the family’s experience on vacation special and compelling.

Eezee Lizzy will be at the Bon Bini restaurant every Monday with his escort and companion by his side, Marielle Smeets, the resort’s Director of Fun.

Rita Morozov, who for many years officiated over the office of the Aruba Tourism Authority in Germany, was recently introduced by Eco Destination Management of Aruba as their latest recruit.

Her debut at Aruba Meets Europe was quite appropriate as Rita knows many of the European travel professionals very well from her previous role as Aruba’s country representative on the Continent.

Rita is now the official European representative for Eco Destination Management Services, says Ruben Mannes, who is seen here in the picture with Magali Meza, Eco DMS Aruba General Manager. “This is a perfect fit,” he adds, “Rita brings an in-depth knowledge of the market to us, and combined with her understanding of the island, our clients will enjoy her gifts.”

In November of 2007, T.H. Palm & Company, one of the most popular and colorful stores on Palm Beach, made a decision to earmark a portion of its sales’ revenue to six local not-for-profit foundations, helping them via regular monetary donations, and giving back to the community, in the words of the ancient Kabala, making Tikkun Olam, helping in the repair of the world.

Shoppers at T.H. Palm & Company were asked to pick their favorite charity from a list of excellent local projects and Edmund E. Harms Foundation was among the top six.

Beginning with the first of November 2007, T.H. Palm & Company started holding back a portion of its income and this week, the second seasonal donation was handed over to a representative of the Edmund E. Harms Foundation, Sonia Jacobs, who received a check from Salamander Holdings NV associates Candice Pompier, Shary Celaire & Nilo Arcilla.

On August 16, 1996, Edmund E. Harms passed away from cancer. He spent his final days at home among family members and friends.  Not even 30 days after his passing the Edmund E. Harms foundation was established in Edmunds’ memory with his parents donating the initial capital for the fund.  The mission of the foundation is to facilitate the wish of cancer patients to spend their final days in a loving, supportive environment.  Most patients who receive services from the foundation are sadly under the age of 40 and are suffering from an incurable cancerous disease. Having received an indication from their medical specialist, that they are entering the last phase of their illness, they petition the foundation, which then makes it possible for them to spend their last days at home and pass away in their own beds.  The Edmund E. Harms Foundation offers the infrastructure allowing them to spend the last phase of their lives in as comfortable as possible environment, at home among caring family members and friends. The assistance that the foundation offers consists of oxygen supply, anesthetics, wheelchairs, walkers, special hospital beds, part-time nursing and possibly extended to full-time nursing.

You can help make a difference too, just by shopping at T.H. Palm & Company. Two Percent (2%) of that sale is designated to one of six foundations. You choose which foundation you would like your sale to go to.  It’s that easy!

If you would like more information about Edmund E. Harms Foundation you may call Dr. R.J. Tjon Sie Fat at 587 1277. You may also contact T.H. Palm & Company at 586 8909 or email orders@salamanderholdings.com.  T.H. Palm & Company is located street side at the Playa Linda Beach Resort and open daily from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Open Fridays until 11 p.m.