Archive for June, 2009

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa and the new Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa are hosting memorable tropical experiences for the 2009/2010 holiday season. From indulgent treatments at the resorts’ spas to kayaking along the coast in search of sea turtles, both locales offer activities for the whole family. Vacationers traveling to Aruba can stay at the flagship Radisson resort on the island’s best beach from December 18, 2009 - January 3, 2010, with rates beginning at USD $549 per night. Those looking to escape to the chic French side of St. Martin island can enjoy the new Radisson St. Martin Resort with rates starting at  €419 per night (approximately USD $585*).

“Traveling to the Caribbean is one of the most idyllic ways to spend the holidays,” explains Francis Purvey, director of sales and marketing for the resorts. “We are seeing strong interest at Radisson Aruba and Radisson St. Martin Resorts, so we encourage guests to make reservations soon.”

Aruba and St Martin are serviced by direct flights from major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami and Atlanta. Guests can explore the crystal-blue waters of the Caribbean through snorkeling, sailing, diving, or kayaking. Both resorts feature comprehensive spas, a complimentary kids club, an array of diverse cuisine options in several on-site restaurants and cafes, and other amenities special to each property.

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is a perfect warm-weather locale to celebrate with family and friends and many guests have been making the resort their holiday home since its opening. Located in the picturesque cove of Anse Marcel, the Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa also makes a great December vacation. With the average temperature around 78 degrees this time of year, along with all of the activities and unparalleled service the resort offers, it’s sure to be a holiday to remember.

For information and reservations, call Radisson Hotels & Resorts toll-free at (800) 333-3333, visit www.radisson.com or contact a travel agent.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Margo Esposito as travel industry sales manager for Radisson Resorts Aruba and St Martin. Based in Hollywood, Fla., she will provide strategic leadership for the marketing and sales team’s leisure travel efforts.

“Margo Esposito will be a valuable asset to Radisson resorts in Aruba and St Martin,” explains the resort’s Director of Sales and Marketing Francis Purvey. “Our work with travel agents is vital and Margo will play an important role in strengthening these partnerships.” Esposito comes to Radisson with over 20 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience, representing preeminent resorts in the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.

The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is situated on Palm Beach, encompassing the best 14 oceanfront acres on Aruba. The AAA Four Diamond-rated property features a white sandy beach, lagoons, waterfalls, manicured gardens and 353 guestrooms including 30 luxurious suites and exclusive Plaza Club accommodations. The resort also features sumptuous cuisine, two free-form pools, a 16,000 square foot casino, the 13,000 square foot award-winning Larimar Spa, PADI watersports facility, and over 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa recently completed an $80 million transformation, opening December 16, 2008. The luxurious oceanfront property is the quintessential St. Martin getaway, comprised of several Caribbean plantation-style buildings featuring 189 rooms and 63 suites. Radisson St. Martin also features a 93-meter signature zero-entry infinity pool, lush garden areas and suites adjacent to the property’s 150-slip, full-service marina. Guests can enjoy gourmet dining at C Le Restaurant, a chic, open-air beachfront venue showcasing Executive Chef Bruno Brazier’s contemporary-Caribbean/classic-French cuisine.

For information and reservations, call Radisson Hotels & Resorts (800) 333-3333 or visit www.radissoncaribbean.com.

Above: Margo Esposito

Animal Rights Aruba Presents

Flea Market
In front of the Talk of the Town
July 5, 2009 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
There will be entertainment, activities for kids etc…

click to enlarge

Rates at romantic Aruba resort are $167 per couple through December 22

Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba is inviting travel agents to experience its celebrated romantic ambiance at special rates now through December 22, 2009. Agents can check out the couples-only resort, named one of the top 10 most romantic resorts in the world by TripAdvisor travelers, at rates starting at just $167 per night, based on double occupancy in the Superior Gardenview room category. The announcement of these rates comes on the heels of an island-wide travel agent outreach program launched by the Aruba Tourism Authority.

Agents specializing in romance, couples travel and destination weddings and honeymoons can confidently recommend Bucuti after experiencing the intimacy this eco-chic resort offers. The resort welcomes couples for sunset weddings, vow renewal ceremonies, intimate honeymoons, same-sex weddings and even simple beach vacations for two. Bucuti’s award-winning staff gets consistent high marks for ensuring a personalized romantic retreat for each couple.

Guests will also feel good knowing they are staying at a leader in environmentally responsible tourism. For more than 30 years, Bucuti’s owner, Ewald Biemans, has set the standard for green hotels in the Caribbean and beyond. The resort is ISO14001 certified and has been recognized by Green Globe, American Express and ISLANDS magazine. Bucuti gives guests the chance to pitch in with recycling contests, a sea turtle protection program and beach cleanups.

A new highlight at this 104-room European-inspired resort includes a stylish transformation of the outdoor space, which now has a lounge-like atmosphere with infinity pool, contemporary Kettal and Dedon furniture and romantic lighting. Bucuti was the first resort in Aruba to mature from the traditional, tropical Caribbean style to a more modern yet functional look, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

For an added taste of Aruba, agents can participate in a Dine Around program for $38 per person, per dinner, during their stay. Eighteen nearby restaurants have special three-course menus as part of the Dine Around, including Bucuti’s oceanfront Pirate’s Nest Restaurant featuring fresh seafood, prime steaks and vegetarian options.

The $167 travel agent rate includes all taxes and a daily American breakfast buffet for two and is valid through December 22, 2009. To make reservations, agents can e-mail info@bucuti.com, call 1(888) 4-BUCUTI or visit www.bucuti.com/en/travel_industry where they can login and make online reservations and view a FAQ page. (Login: Travel; Password: Industry). Agents are eligible for 10 percent commission on all bookings, including oceanfront wedding packages.

Forbes Traveler.com heeft een onderzoek gedaan naar welke bestemmingen in de wereld je zonder zorgen op vakantie kunt gaan. De ABC eilanden behoren tot de 10 meest veiligste reisbestemmingen.

Tijdens het onderzoek is uiteenlopende data bekeken, van U.S. State Department meldingen van criminaliteit tegen Amerikaanse inwoners in het buitenland en de laatste United Nations enquete over wereldwijde criminaliteitstrends tot de resultaten van het onderzoek van Mercer. Daarnaast is er gekeken naar andere ‘fear factors’: natuurrampen, sociale of politieke onrust, oorlogen en terrorisme.

De statistieken liegen niet als het om de ABC eilanden gaat; de criminaliteitscijfers zijn laag, er is nagenoeg geen politieke onrust, de eilanden liggen te zuidelijk voor orkanen en in 2008 telde het trio de minste cruiseschip gerelateerde misdrijven. Aruba scoorde zelfs een ‘perfecte score’ in de cruiseschip criminaliteitsenquête. Bovendien is het opvallend dat de meeste veilige bestemmingen die uit dit onderzoek naar voren zijn gekomen een homogene bevolkingssamenstelling hebben, maar de gemengde bevolking van de ABC eilanden bewijzen het tegenovergestelde.

De 10 veiligste bestemmingen zijn: ABC-eilanden, Bhutan, Cyprus, Dubai, Singapore, Ierland, Ijsland , Mauritius, Nieuw-Zeeland en Zwitserland.

Voor meer informatie klik hier.

Op 1 juli 2009 gaat de 23e editie van de Arubaanse Hi-Winds surf- en kitecompetitie voor amateurs en watersportliefhebbers van start. Deelnemers uit alle windrichtingen van de wereld doen mee aan dit meerdaagse evenement. Hi-Winds vindt plaats van 1 t/m 6 juli bij Fisherman’s Hut en Boca Grandi.  Het stralende weer, de passaatwind en de ideale watercondities op Aruba zijn al meerdere malen het perfecte decor geweest voor de spectaculaire surf- en kitewedstrijden.

Naar verwachting zal de 23ste editie van de Aruba Hi-Winds nog meer te bieden hebben dan de afgelopen jaren. Met deelnemers vanuit de hele wereld, goede surfcondities en een gevarieerd programma moet de Aruba Hi-Winds 2009 een groot succes worden. De Aruba Hi-Winds organisatie is er helemaal klaar voor.

De deelnemers van de Aruba Hi-Winds worden onderverdeeld in de volgende categorieën: mannen, vrouwen, masters, jongeren en kinderen. Binnen deze categorieën kunnen mooie prijzen gewonnen worden in de volgende disciplines: course racing, freestyle, slalom en lange afstand wedstrijden.

Naast entertainment voor de echte waterliefhebber laat Aruba zich uiteraard van haar gastvrije kant zien door de toeschouwers een keur aan lekker eten, muziek, dans en show te bieden, om volop te genieten van de 23e editie Hi-Winds.

Voor meer informatie: www.aruba-hiwinds.org
Voor meer informatie over Aruba: www.aruba.com

Aruba celebrates the 23rd anniversary of the annual Aruba Hi-Winds, the largest amateur windsurfing event in the Caribbean. The event, taking place July 1 - 6, 2009 at the Fisherman’s Huts and Boca Grandi on the east side of the island, features exciting windsurfing and kite boarding competitions for visitors of all ages. Aruba, famous for its year-round trade winds and calm seas, makes the island nation the perfect location for this series of events that attract professionals and amateurs alike.

The Hi-Winds competition includes races for windsurfing and kite boarding. Categories featured are long distance, course racing, slalom and freestyle for windsurfing; and course racing and freestyle for kite boarding. Each category is open for men, women, masters, juniors and kids.

In addition to enjoying the competitions during the day, the Hi-Winds organizing committee has put together fun festivities to entertain all participants and guests in the evenings. Celebrations include a welcome party at Moomba on the first evening, followed by an elegant dinner on the beach hosted by Divi Resorts. On Saturday, dinner will be served at De Palm Island, and Sunday’s party will take place on the beach with live music.

This historic event dates back to 1987, where the Hi-Winds competition was the first event dedicated to hosting world champions and professionals in the windsurfing community. In 1997, the organizing committee turned the Hi-Winds from a top race to a fun, amateur event appealing to all kinds of audiences. In recent years, Freestyle Windsurfing was added to the program and freestylers now compete for the coveted crown of “King of the Huts.” The event’s latest addition to the program is kite boarding, which has turned the competition into an immediate success with all audiences.

To view a full event schedule, entry fees and competition requirements for Hi-Winds, please visit www.hiwinds-aruba.com.  For more information on travel to Aruba, please visit www.aruba.com.

Radisson® Hotels & Resorts today announced the appointment of Gary Jutz to the position of vice president and managing director responsible for operations at its showcase property in Aruba, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, in alignment with an established succession plan for the hotel. The hotel is in the process of interviewing candidates to fill the role of General Manager, which will report directly to Jutz, who brings 38 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the newly created position. Jutz will also lead several special projects for the Radisson brand.

Most recently, Jutz served as General Manager for the Aruba property, leading its efforts to achieve AAA Four Diamond status for both the property and its signature restaurant, Sunset Grille. Prior to that role, Jutz was general manager of the Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jutz has also held the general manager position at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. and with the Hyatt Corporation at hotels in Nashville, Atlanta and Savannah. Jutz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hotel/Restaurant Administration from Washington State University and an Executive Management degree from the Kellogg University Graduate School of Management. Jutz is a member of the Executive Board for the Aruba Hotel and Travel Association and has been recognized with more than 100 awards for personal and organizational achievement, including General Manager of the Year, Ten Best Hotels List, and four Gold Key Awards.

“Promoting Jutz to this new position is a testament to his proven leadership skills and demonstrates the high value we place on this showcase Radisson resort and its management leadership,” said Fredrik Korallus, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Radisson Hotels & Resorts. “The Radisson brand is committed to maintaining our presence in Aruba and providing visitors with an unforgettable vacation experience for years to come.”

“I am excited by the challenge of this new role and dedicated to helping this marquis property achieve even more recognition from both the hospitality industry and our valued guests,” said Jutz. “As a AAA four diamond property, The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa represents the upscale style of hospitality offered by the Radisson brand.  With the help of the talented team of more than 400 employees at the resort, I am confident that we will continue to deliver the highest quality Radisson guest experience.”

Over the next two years, the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa will undergo a $35 million renovation project that will include all guest rooms, the Grand Caribbean Ballroom and the hotel’s 15,000 square feet of meeting space. Throughout the renovation process, the resort will continue to provide award-winning service and amenities, including the Larimar Spa, which was recognized by Condé Nast Traveler in 2007 as a “Hot Spa” location.