Business

The Palm Beach Plaza hosted its first tenant meeting recently. It gave developers great pleasure to see sixty-six new businesses emerging and coming together to create a truly exciting new mall, hailed as Aruba’s #2 attraction – having reserved the #1 attraction title to the island’s beaches!

The tenants got together on the third, Fun City, floor of the plaza and over delicious coffee and donuts received the latest updates from the management team regarding the plaza’s opening schedule, its marketing plans and its interior design timetable. The complex, the largest of its kind in the Southern Caribbean, was created as an all-day family entertainment center offering an abundance of activities to visitors and locals of all ages.

Mall Manager Alex Otterspeer welcomed business-representatives from Shivas Gold & Gems, Tommy Hilfiger, Façonnable, Benetton, San Marina Shoes, Nautica, Sunspecs, Skechers Apparel, Royal Diamonds & Jewels, Monarch Jewels, Guess, Guess Kids, Perry Ellis, Addict, Penha Perfumeries, the Shoe Box, La Chinata, Bianco e Bianco linen, Rimowa Luggage, Muaa fashions, Footfit footwear & Vanilla clothing, Giordano, Basinger Concept Store, Art Fusion gifts, Pixies Bijoux, Candyland Sweets, Tropical World Souvenirs, Panache Swim & Surf Wear, Lulu Body & Bath Products, an 8 movie-theater Mega Plex, and Aruba’s first food court operators including Churromania, Chubby Panda Chinese, Sciue Sciue Italian Tapas, Delie International Sandwiches, Mc Shawarma Express, Italian Gelato and a children’s entertainment section operating a Kiddie-Train, a Rock Climbing wall, the Palm Beach Dream Bowl Bowling Alley, an electronic game zone and a thrilling Cable Slide, next to an indoor supervised play room.

The mall will also feature a branch of Western Union, the Post-Office, the Green Door Spa and a Mini-Market, in addition to a number of theme-restaurants and bars including Casa Tua Mediterranean, Havana Cigar & Spirit Bar, Kokomos, Hoshi Sushi and Mama Mexico, Mimo’s Ice Cream, Tio Pepe Juice Bar and Sir James House of Coffee set amid tropical vegetation, with 354 easily accessible, ground level parking spaces, and nicely lit walking lanes to and from the hotel strip.

Pictured here snapshots from a most productive meeting, at the Palm Beach Plaza.

AAA Welcomes Another World Renowned Store

Recently the Lacoste store officially opened its doors at the Queen Beatrix International Airport. Lacoste operates a duty free shop, offering a great assortment of Lacoste fashion articles to our departing passengers using our airport. Lacoste is a world-renowned brand, recognized worldwide for its high quality products for kids, teens and adults. Lacoste offers sporty and casual wear and is a must-visit-store for our departing passengers. The airport is very pleased to have Lacoste as its newest addition to its main shopping area! AAA N.V. congratulates Lacoste with its third store in Aruba and looks forward to a fruitful business relation with this new business partner.

The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) is pleased to announce the appointment of New York- and Florida-based travel and tourism public relations firm M. Silver Associates as the new agency of record for North America.

After a multi-stage Public Relations review process, which culminated in a visit to New York City to personally meet with the finalist agencies, M. Silver Associates was selected to handle the PR efforts for Aruba, effective August 2008.

M. Silver Associates will work closely with ATA to develop a PR strategy for Aruba to differentiate the destination from its competitors.  The agency will be charged with generating publicity and raising awareness of Aruba’s key offerings in the U.S. and Canada through media relations with both new and traditional media, as well as special events, promotional activities and experiential marketing concepts.  In conjunction with a new branding campaign also launching this year, M. Silver Associates will be promoting the destination’s new image and advertising campaign along with the launch of ATA’s new Website, which is scheduled for fall 2008.

“Aruba is very pleased to have M. Silver Associates on board as part of our team,” said Edison Briesen, Minister of Tourism & Transportation.  “Their strong reputation as tourism industry experts will be a key asset for us as we launch our new brand campaign, and we look forward to building increased awareness and positive publicity for Aruba over the next few years.”

“Competition in the tourism industry is global and fierce, and ATA is very excited to work with M. Silver Associates to generate increased awareness of the destination and all of the enriching experiences Aruba has to offer travelers,” said Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, managing director for the Aruba Tourism Authority.  “We interviewed many strong contenders for this position, but ultimately felt that M. Silver offered the right team chemistry, strategic insights, creative ideas and global perspective that we were seeking, and we look forward to a very successful partnership.”

For more information on Aruba, please visit online at www.ARUBA.com or call 1.800.TO.ARUBA.

A group of certified event planners from the US, all top decision-makers in the MICE market, visited Aruba over the weekend and was dined and wined elegantly and extravagantly by the members of Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, AHATA.

Their intense program included site inspections, cocktail parties, and dinner affairs, all designed to introduce the island and its superbly diverse tourist product, in consideration of future group business.

Over the past few years Aruba has been making considerable efforts to attract Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, in large and small groups first via “Meet Aruba,” the AHATA marketing arm and recently by means by its evolution, the ACB, the Aruba Convention Bureau of North American, an exciting joint initiative between the public sector, the Aruba Tourism Authority and the private sector, the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association.

“The Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association is happy to represent Aruba as the contracted entity for the MICE market in North America, and in working to attract greater group business to the island,” comments AHATA President and CEO Rob Smith on the recently-signed agreement with the Aruba Tourism Authority.

“We already have 35-plus shows which we will be participating, together with AHATA-member resorts, and we are on track with reaching targeted goals this year. With the new additions to our Convention Bureau staff, with Carol Daughtery as the Regional Director of Sales in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and Hal Davis heading up sales efforts in the Mid-West, we expect to foster continued growth of the MICE market through the promotion of Aruba’s world-class resorts, state-of-the-art convention facilities and diverse offerings, as well as our convenient air connections and TIEA status.”

“We are very excited about the future,” reports ACB’s Heather Linton, “Under the name Meet Aruba the industry assumed we were a destination management company and that our services cost money. Now as we changed names to the Aruba Convention Bureau of North America, we get instant recognition. Industry professional know they can come to us with their business, and expect no charge since we are working for the destination, and our service to them is free of charge.”

Pictured here top decision makers from the US, getting to know the island, as hosted by the Aruba Convention Bureau of North America.

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.

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.

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.”

The first mortgage signing for the pension fund took place at the office of notary Yarzagaray in Dakota, in the presence of three pension funds board members representing the employers, Paul Vandormael, representing the employees, Lisette Mohammed, and the impartial Chairman of the Board, Harold Malmberg.

Managing Director Sanaa Bergen reports it is a new benefit. The pension fund now offers its members the possibility to refinance their assets with a mortgage of 8.5% interest.

After a scrupulous screening process, the first beneficiary employee is Amy Spagnola of De Palm Tours. Sanaa Bergen reports it is very special since Harold Malmberg is a founder of the fund, since 1995, and every employee of his company, De Palm Tours, is affiliated with the Pension Fund.

“Thank you for making it happen,” states Amy. “I am glad that I got to be a first for all of us.  I know future applicants will also benefit from this process and the money that I save will be put to good use. When I get my Masters degree you will know, you also helped make it possible.”

Paul Vandormael, a board member representing the employers states that the Pension Fund Tourism Sector has made an important step in servicing its membership. The first mortgage has been granted. The PFTS mortgage interest rate is at a competitive level, he adds, giving members the opportunity to own their own property at a reasonable cost. “We hope a lot of mortgages follow. In this way PFTS contributes to members’ wellbeing and to making Aruba a one happy island.”

Lisette Mohamed, a board member representing the employees states that she is proud of being part of a very dynamic board, who makes sure that the fund is solid so that participants can have faith that their money is well taken care off, besides working at providing members with more benefits so they enjoy added-value features from saving for retirement. “The times call for creativity,” she adds, “and these interesting initiatives are very welcome.”

As one of the founders of the Pension Fund, Harold Malmberg states that the board was cautious about the financial avenues open to the fund in Aruba. “We wanted to employ the funds in an adequate manner, in a low risk area. The money generated from members’ contributions when utilize to extend mortgage loans to member employees, fulfils two important functions, the first is to offer loans at a reasonable interest rate and the second is to employ the PFSA funds at a very low risk area, with good growth potential.

“It has always been our goal,” he concludes, “to grow the funds in such a manner that our employees can depend on an adequate income after a lifetime of hard work.

Indianapolis’ Lodge Design was recently awarded two of only 20 Gold Rings at the Brass Ring Awards Show for the web site and packaging it developed for Aruba Aloe’s Island Remedy collection.

“The AdClub’s annual awards competition recognizes the best and brightest in advertising and design excellence in Indiana,” said AdClub 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 island product. It was a story no one else in the industry could tell.

“With its rich island history and unique healing properties, the Island Remedy brand was a natural evolution for the already successful Aruba Aloe product line,” said Aruba Aloe of North America’s Chris Hupp. “From the very beginning of this project, we were determined to make sure the packaging and web site reflected the brand definition we had developed and told the story of the world’s finest aloe.”

“Our job is to get people excited and emotionally engaged with the product,” said Lodge Design’s Jason Roemer. “Even if people can’t visit Aruba, we’re able to bring a little bit of Aruba to them. By sourcing unique package shapes — and creating a compelling web presence — we developed a line that looked like it had evolved over the past hundred years. It was important that consumers experience the brand the second they picked up a product; the bottles and jars needed to speak for themselves. After all, we wanted people to believe in the power of Island Remedy and understand its relationship to Aruba’s Caribbean culture. That was the really exciting part of this project: creating the connection between the consumer and the island.”

“When consumers visit our web site they understand that Island Remedy is something special,”
said Aruba Aloe’s Louis Posner. “When shoppers visit our stores to see and try the Island Remedy collection, they become customers. This has been the most successful product launch in the history of Aruba Aloe. Since 1890! We enjoy working with an agency that can provide creative work that is as unique as our product lines.” Posner added, “It is a wonderful partnership.”

“We thrive on putting creative ideas together that tell a great story,” Roemer continued. “We’re excited about the work and proud to be part of such a unique company!”

For 10 years, Lodge Design has been helping companies, large and small, grow their businesses through a unique “brand storytelling” approach. It’s not tricky. It’s not math or science. It’s about creating an emotional hook.

Visit www.ArubaAloe.com for more information about the Island Remedy products.

Aruba is thrilled to announce that the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) has selected the island paradise as the host country for the 2009 International Conference, set for December 3-6. The event will bring together the top minds in incentive travel, a multi-billion dollar global industry, to one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated destinations. Aruba promises to be the “host with the most” as it welcomes hundreds of delegates from around the world for three days of educational sessions, vendor showcases, roundtables, networking events, gala dinners and much more. The 2009 International Conference will be held at the two official host hotels, The Westin Aruba Resort and the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa.

Securing this significant conference comes at a perfect time for the destination as Aruba is enjoying increased interest from around the globe. Not only has the island recently undergone over $350 million in upgrades, expansions and renovations across all aspects of the tourism sector, but arrivals from the U.S. in 2007 were also up 3.27% over the previous year. While worldwide arrivals also saw a remarkable increase with an extraordinary 8.56% spike over 2006, with 753,816 visitors from around the world making Aruba their destination of choice in 2007.

“SITE’s membership is rich with innovators who greatly influence not only the evolution of the incentive industry, but also the business outcomes of client organizations,” said SITE President Padraic Gilligan. “The SITE International Conference is a superlative forum where professionals from around the world gather to share insights that help them achieve professional goals, surpass client expectations, and have a meaningful and positive impact on economies of destination cities around the world.”

“We were thrilled to hear of SITE’s decision to make Aruba its host location for the 2009 International Conference,” said Minister of Tourism and Transportation, Edison Briesen. “The incentive travel industry is an important one for our island and we are looking forward to showcasing the many things that sets Aruba apart from the rest of the Caribbean region throughout the conference. We are confident that SITE’s commitment to bringing together the most influential minds in this field, coupled with Aruba’s dedication to delivering an unmatched travel experience to all our guests, is a recipe for success.”

These principals of community, leadership and growth guide SITE’s vision — as well as its commitment to selecting distinct locales for its own events. Aruba, situated in the southern Caribbean, is a tropical paradise that enjoys year-round near perfect weather, less than 20 inches of rainfall annually, extraordinary hotels and resorts, over 200 incredible international restaurants, and an extremely rich heritage. Arubans, renowned for their warmth and hospitality and known as the friendliest in the Caribbean region, proudly showcase the island’s cultural and environmental diversity, and are equally devoted to respecting and preserving the island’s pristine marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

“Because Aruba is, without question, one of the top incentive travel destinations in the Caribbean, it is fitting that SITE, the foremost professional association devoted to the incentive travel market, would choose our island as the host for its 2009 International Conference,” said Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, managing director for the Aruba Tourism Authority. “The decision makers in the incentive travel industry will experience a successful event as a result of our strong public/private partnership that makes planning a meeting so much easier and Aruba’s well-known hospitality.”

“Aruba is ideal for SITE’s constituency,” said SITE CEO Brenda Anderson. “Sharing experiential knowledge is imperative for incentive and travel professionals who wish to enhance expertise and better understand this worldwide industry. Aruba offers a unique setting; it’s a model for promoting economic development with a keen eye toward cultural and environmental sensitivity — both of which are top-of-mind for SITE members and the organizations they work with to implement programs that drive business success.”

“I am really proud of the fact that our entire destination has gotten behind securing the SITE Conference for Aruba,” said Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association President and CEO, Rob Smith. “What could be a better investment than bringing the world’s professional meeting planners to one destination? Aruba has prepared for this for the last few years, undergoing a half a billion dollars of investment in its resort and meetings facilities and I am confident this will be our day in the sun.”