Valero Energy Corp plans to restart its shut 235,000 barrel per day (bpd) Aruba refinery in September after completing an overhaul currently underway and if the plant can operate at a profit, Chief Executive Bill Klesse said in a statement this week. “When complete in September, this work will provide us the option to resume operations at the Aruba refinery if conditions are profitable and will enhance strategic alternatives for the refinery,” Klesse said. Valero had idled its Aruba refinery and sold off another plant in Delaware as it dealt with a string of quarterly losses.
Business
If Profitable, Aruba Refinery to Restart in September
Business
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Petrobras No Plans To Expand International Refining
Business
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR), or Petrobras, has no plans to expand international refining, CEO Jose Sergio Gabrielli said Monday.
The executive appeared to throw cold water on continued rumors that Petrobras was a possible buyer for Valero Energy Corp.’s (VLO) troubled refinery in Aruba.
Petrobras will focus its international investments on exploration in the Atlantic Ocean basin, especially in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, Gabrielli said during a press conference to discuss the company’s 2010-2014 investment plan.
Earlier Monday, Petrobras said it would invest $224 billion as part of its latest five-year strategic plan. With increased expenditures planned for development of deepwater fields off the coast of Brazil, international investments were pegged at $11.5 billion in 2010-2014, Petrobras said.
And given Petrobras’s massive investments planned for its domestic refining capacity, that leaves little room to snap up refineries outside the country, Gabrielli indicated.
“We don’t have any plans to expand international refining,” Gabrielli said. In 2008, Petrobras negotiated to buy Valero’s 255,000-barrel-a-day refinery on the Caribbean island of Aruba. The refinery has been shuttered because of tax issues and slack demand related to the global economic slowdown.
Valero’s Aruba refinery doesn’t produce gasoline, and produces only a small amount of finished diesel fuel. The bulk of the plant’s products are feedstocks that require further processing.
Story courtesy of Aruba Today
Aruba Marriott Promotes New Director of Sales and Marketing
Business, Hotels
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Antoinette Van den Berg has been named Director of Sales and Marketing of the Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. A member of the Aruba Marriott team since 2005, Van den Berg brings luxury experience, deep familiarization with Marriott and great enthusiasm to her new position.
As Director of Sales and Marketing of the Aruba Marriott and a member of the resort’s executive team, Van den Berg will oversee and implement all ECommerce, marketing and public relations initiatives, as well as transient and group sales. Van den Berg is dedicated to maintaining the resort’s reputation for high service standards.
“I’m ready and eager to enter this new chapter of my career,” said Van den Berg. “Aruba Marriott is a highly respected and outstanding Caribbean resort. I’m honored to fill this position and dedicated to helping deliver the best vacation experiences possible for our guests.”
Van den Berg was most recently Director of Sales for the Aruba Marriott, having joined the team in 2005 as a Senior Sales Manager. Prior to that, Van den Berg held various positions in Aruba’s hospitality industry including Assistant Restaurant Manager for The Mill Restaurant, Latin America Groups and Transient Sales Manager for the Aruba Sonesta Resort and Senior Manager of International Sales for De Palm Tours in Aruba. Van den Berg began her career in the hospitality industry as the Sales Manager for the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino.
“Van den Berg’s immeasurable experience and expertise working with high-end, service-oriented properties make her the perfect complement to the team at the Aruba Marriott Resort,” says Kevin Schwab, Vice President and Managing Director for the Aruba Marriott.
Aruba Ad Campaign Scoops Prestigious UK Travel Marketing Award
Business, General News, Visitors From UK
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Aruba Tourism Authority’s eye-catching ArOOOHuba! advertising campaign in London has scooped a prestigious UK marketing award.
The ad, which featured on the London Underground network, won the “Best Poster Advertising” category in the annual Travel Marketing Awards, the UK’s premier assessment of the year’s best industry advertising and marketing.
The prize was collected at a gala awards dinner at London’s Park Lane Hotel on Monday (March 15) by Geoff Saltmarsh, managing director of The Saltmarsh Partnership (TSP), ATA’s PR and marketing agency for the UK, and Charles Grimsey, head of CGA Creative, TSP’s design associates. ATA’s European Regional Director, Humphrey Vrolijk, was also at the dinner to join the celebrations, together with Joanna Walding, ATA’s UK Director, as well as other directors from the agency and Netherlands-based hotel representatives.
The Palm Beach Plaza Hosts It’s First Tenants’ Meeting
Business, Happenings
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
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.
Lacoste Is Now Officially Open at the Airport!
Business, General News
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
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.
Aruba Tourism Authority Appoints M. Silver Associates As Agency Of Record In North America
Business, General News
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
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.
The Aruba Convention Bureau Of North American, ACB, Delivers A Destination Review
Business, General News
Monday, August 11th, 2008
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.
Caribbean Mercatile Bank hosts a Mega Party for Bill, Joy, Javier & Sylvia
Business
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
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.
Associates Development Program at the Westin
Business, Hotels
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
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.
