Archive for August, 2008

A group of event planners from the US received a special welcome to Aruba, orchestrated with great attention to detail and fanfare by Eco Destination Management.

Over the next couple of days, from July 30th to Aug 3rd, the Aruba Convention Bureau, formerly known as Meet Aruba and its new, dynamic sales team, will be helping host the important planners at the Westin Aruba Resort, in conjunction with Aruba’s premier hospitality partners.

The group will be wined and dined, and shown the island’s fantastic ability to lavishly entertain and creatively pamper meetings, incentives conventions, exhibitions and conferences, big and small.

ECO DMS, gave the just-landed certified meeting professionals a taste of luxury with an airport arrival featuring Mojitos served on a red carpet and special transportation to their host hotel.

On Friday the group will be spending a magical, unforgettable night at Mr. Jazz, hosted by Eco Destination Management, says Ruben D. Mannes, Director of Sales & Marketing
ECO Destination Management Services of Aruba.

ECO Destination Management hosted a group of VIP guests for dinner at Mr Jazz, located at Paseo Herencia, a swanky supper club, with an authentic Cuban atmosphere. The guests where received at the Hyatt Regency pier with on a Red Carpet, and then walked across the beach, guided by tiki torches towards their awaiting transportation which took them to Mr. Jazz, where a special banquet was set up on the 2nd floor wraparound terrace, overlooking the band and the dance floor.

Dinner offered a Taste of Mr. Jazz’s Culinary Delights, and the ever-flowing Mojitos matched the mood created by the brand new dance show of the Pachanga Aruba dancers. It was a memorable evening for the guests, invited by the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association to experience Aruba’s special brand of hospitality for a weekend, says Ruben Mannes, Eco DMS Aruba.

A brand new Intermezzo Spa just opened at the Brickell Bay Beach Club on Friday. The intimate spa offers two beautifully appointed treatment rooms, one for rejuvenating and invigorating body treatments – the room is perfectly suited for a couple’s massage and one dedicated to delicious pedicures and manicures, between cool dips in the resort tropical pool.

The Brickell Bay Beach Club, a boutique hotel in the heart of Aruba’s famous Palm Beach, offers visitors a relaxed and tranquil vacation experience graced with all contemporary conveniences found in large branded hotels, delivered with a more personal approach.

Intermezzo Spa’s inaugural party was hosted by its owners Michael v/d Berg and Bibi and Martin Middeldorp, also General Manager Chris Smith and Juan Keyter, Brickell Bay Beach Club Sales & Marketing Manager & General Manager Lucy Fernandez.

For more information about Intermezzo Spa and Brickell Bay Beach Resort call tel.: +297 586 0900, or write to info@brickellbayaruba.com

The exclusive Swarovski Boutique entertained dignitaries for an elegant cocktail party on Sunday evening. The dignitaries, all Swarovski agents from the region were welcomed by owner, jeweler Kelly Alwani and by Swarovski Vice President Travel-Retail, Peter Zottl, and the Regional Manager Caribbean & Mexico, Travel Retail Americans, Nelson Rivera.

Rivera put together a special day-long conference designed to update all Swarovski travel retail specialists on the latest developments. Zottl joined the program happy to network and connect with his vendors, spearheading the Swarovski expansion in the Caribbean and South America.

The cocktail party at the Swarovski Boutique was attended by Jerusha Rasmijn of the Aruba Tourism Authority who helped Rivera put the exciting program together and was expertly catered by a Taste of Belgium.

“Kelly Alwani, opened the first dedicated Swarovski Boutique in the Caribbean,” explains Zottl, “and we simply wanted to showcase his store to all our travel-retailers, and congratulate him and his lovely wife, on their insight and vision.”

After having opened the exclusive Mont Blanc boutique in downtown Oranjestad, Alwani of Shivas Jewels & Gems inaugurated the Swarovski Boutique, offering a glittering selection of Swarovski jewelry and home décor items, represented by the elusive, alluring white swan.

The luxurious crystal company was founded over a hundred years ago by Daniel Swarovski, who invented an electric crystal-cutting machine that revolutionized the jewelry and fashion industries in 1892. He then opened a factory for the industrial production of cut crystal jewelry stones in 1895, in Wattens, Austria.

Faithful to the spirit of its founder, today Swarovski is run in Switzerland by fourth and fifth generation descendants of Daniel Swarovski, employing more than 16,000 individuals around the world. Swarovski continues to lure people from the most diverse cultural backgrounds and lifestyles with high quality new crystal products in wide-ranging styles and designs.

Contemporary trends, comments Rivera, are fashionably translated into product lines such as jewelry, watches, accessories, home décor products, gift items and collectible figurines.

Pictured here are party snapshots.

Ronald and Teri Duckett from Philadelphia renewed their wedding vows on the beach at sunset where it all began 30 years ago at the Aruba Beach Club.

Twenty-Five friends and family members attended the ceremony conducted by local reverent Jacobs. All invited guests were long time Aruba Beach Club members, all have been returning to the island each year for the past 25 to 29 years!

Lenny and Marlene Lee who have been here for the past 29 years, and were also present at the original wedding party 30 years ago, stood by the couple for the renewal ceremony with great pride. Daughters Taryn and Tarah served as flower girls.

Ron and Teri visit Aruba every year and could not imagine their renewal of vows anywhere else but on their “happy island.” Incidentally Teri worked in Aruba as an exercise instructor in the past and even got to be the judge for the 1989 Carnival Queen Election.

The ceremony was followed by a champagne toast poolside and dinner at Marina Pirata. Local friends Rosita Ellis and her lovely daughter, as well as Aruba-born Terry Warren, were among wedding guests. See you for Carnival 55th, Terry says.

Brisas del Mar just added brunch to its menu of weekly events and activities. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Brisas del Mar serves a great number of classic breakfast dishes, cold appetizers, hot appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts, all for just $32.50 per person, no service included, and children under 12,  pay half price.

Brisas del Mar, the lovely terrace restaurant at Savaneta 222A, created a delightful brunch menu which takes off with Belgian Waffles, Cinnamon Rolls and Quiche Lorraine, then continues with Eggs Benedict, and customized Omelets with a choice of fillings. Brunch goers may order as they wish, from home made Fish Soup, Caesar salad, Seafood Ceviche to Crab on Toast with Garlic Mayo, and then turn their attention to the main courses, Fresh Catch of the Day, Roasted Pepper Loin & Thai Ginger Chicken, just to name a few. The culinary experience comes to a sweet conclusion with  assorted Petit Fours and Fresh Watermelon for dessert.

Appropriately, Brisas del Mar serves Mimosa, White Sangria, Sparkling Wine, coffee and tea, before, during and after the meal, all spiked with a healthy helping of seascapes, sea gulls and sea breezes.

www.Brisasdelmararuba.com

ARA, Animal Rights Aruba, held a press conference recently at the Westin Aruba Resort. The press conference announced the upcoming Jungle themed fund raising ball to be held at the Westin Aruba Resort Grand Ballroom on October 24, 2008.

The funds raised at the ball will be used to support the ongoing national neutering and spaying program, in place since 2006, which is in great part subsidized by Animal Rights Aruba.

Some of the funds will also be earmarked to pay for the organization’s educational drive in schools and kindergartens teaching Aruba’s young generation about the welfare, healthcare and nutrition of domestic animals.

Under the slogan “We Save, We Care and We Educate”, ARA has been making good progress in the community since its inception a number of years ago, as a member of the WSPA, World Society for the Protection of Animals.

“ARA’s vision,” says Chairperson Roy Meza, “is an island in which the welfare of animals is understood and respected by everyone, and protected by effective legislation.”

The Westin Aruba Resort - a pet friendly hotel where owners are welcome with their pets, under the leadership of General Manager Matt Balcik recently made a decision to spearhead and facilitate the annual ARA fund raising drive.

Balcik and his team are planning a fantastic event with great food and superb music for Awg 300 per couple and tickets are available via tel.: +297 594 5393, so save the date!

Also as part of the resort’s community service, volunteer executives recently painted the Animal Shelter in Wayaca. All materials were donated by the resort which is also planning in the future to help create a small Children’s Petting Zoo on the adjacent terrain, benefiting local kids and acquainting them with proper care and treatment of animals. Another upcoming opportunity designed to help healthy, adoptable pets find a home, is penciled in for the end of the month with the first ever Westin Pet Adoption day, held at the resort. Pictured here the ARA members in action at the press conference.

For more information about ARA, you may write to: ARA@Setarnet.aw

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.

(Top right, bottom left) The Aruban Resort & Casino is currently undergoing a complete renovation project of the guest villas.

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

Opening night at the Crystal Casino exceeded all expectations as the stage filled with twenty-nine amazing performers when the long-awaited Havana Dance struck the first musical note and took the first dance step, at the show’s colorful debut at the Renaissance Aruba Resort.

The unique review featuring a live band, talented acrobats, a two-tiered stage, and fifteen show numbers with fifteen costume changes took off at 9 p.m. sharp, with a Havana Dance overture, concluding with a spectacular Cha-Cha-Cha.

Then the three famed acrobats invaded the stage for a display of muscle, balance and dexterity and set the tone for the return of the show’s singers interpreting the classic Besame Mucho and the contemporary Pintame.

Mid-program, the show also paid tribute to Cuban Folklore in particular and to Caribbean folklore in general by including a dazzling dance number evoking African tribal rituals and the worship of nature. The popular Bamboleiro, ignited the stage with contagious music and movement and led into the even more popular Conga potpourri and Guantaramera, just before the tremendous confetti and feather loaded finale.

With 250 costumes, more than 80 pairs of shoes, 100 headpieces and 8 scenery and stage changes, the cast from Varadero Cuba, under the choreographic direction of Graciella Biart and Artistic Direction of Jose Valdes Grillo and Julia Rodriguez, creates magic nightly, at the Crystal Theater.

Showtime: Monday through Saturday at 9 p.m.
Tickets: $49.00 - per person
Children under 12 pay $25.00
Dinner & show package at the L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House,
$89.00 - per person

Tickers are available at the theater box office, Renaissance Aruba Resort, at the concierge desk and at De Palm Tours and Pelican Adventure Activity Centers at your hotel.

For information and reservation call tel.: 583 6000 ext. 6115 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

After 5 p.m., call tel.: 583 6000 ext. 6357

HUDSON Productions Inc.

The 20th edition milestone for the crew of Island Temptations hits the market this week.  “After this spring’s well-received ‘Green Edition,’ the pressure was on to produce something just as impacting but altogether different,” said Editorial and Creative Director Tina Causey-Escobedo.

The Summer 2008 front cover is one of 12 classic pinups recreated in the edition with local models and settings to give them Aruban spice and spirit.  “This was an exhausting but exhilarating project…we hope the results reflect the true heart and soul that went into making these pinups, and all the amazing efforts put into them by our entire crew,” stated Public Relations and Special Projects Director Rona Coster.

“Raising the Bar” is one of this edition’s feature articles, recognizing the astounding efforts within Aruba’s hospitality community to upgrade the island’s tourism product and cement our standing as one of the top island destinations in the world, offering world-class amenities to travelers. Other tourism-related features include an article about the preparation that goes into cuisine for large banquets in “Feeding the Masses in Style,” as well as a piece dedicated to sharing the work of our talented local artists with visitors in “Resort Guests Enjoy an All-access Pass to Local Art.”  Readers will also meet several of the island’s talent local singers in “Ladies of the Lounge.”

The crew of Island Temptations is already hard at work on the Fall-Winter 08/09 edition, where visitors to the island will learn how to “Eat & Play like a Local!”

(Above left) Portada: The front cover features model Zilah Wever, recreating Easy to Spot (1950) by Artist Harry Ekman, with Jewelry by T.H. Palm & Company, Outfit by Trash by Ronchi, Shoes by San Marina, Picnic basket available at T.H. Palm & Company.

(Above right) Sailor Beware (1953), by Artist Gil Elvgren, recreated by Model Heidi Davis with Jewelry by Colombian Emeralds, Outfit by Creations Aimee/Heidi’s Fashions and Shoes by San Marina.

(Top) Model Paola Ochoa looks at her Croquet playing image in the new magazine.