General News

Aruba’s Sizzling Steakhouse Delivers Grand Surprise To Loyal Guests

It was a night that will be remembered forever for Maria and Gifford Andrew from Waretown, New Jersey and their best friends Suzanne and Patrick Reilly from Orohara Park, New York. What was supposed to be a farewell dinner in Ruth’s Chris Steak House celebrating their last night of their Aruba vacation, turned out to be a night full of surprises. The two lovely couples, both long time repeat visitors to Aruba as well as loyal guests of the Aruba Marriott, turned out to be the actual 100,000th visitor to Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Wednesday December 9th.

Welcomed by Marriott’s General Manager Kevin Schwab, Hotel Manager Louella Brezovar, Director of F&B Steve Marra, Restaurant General Manager Eduard Renaud, Ruth’s Chris Chef Charles Wagner and a group of servers and hostesses, the Andrews were caught completely by surprise. They were thanked for their loyalty and support to the sizzling steakhouse, followed by a champagne toast in their honor. Maria and Gifford were handed a commemorative plaque and received a dinner for four ‘on the house’ at a decorated table.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House opened its doors in February of 2008 as part of a $50 million overhaul of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. The famous steakhouse, with roots in New Orleans, is best known for its high service and quality levels, paired with great wines and steaks that are served sizzling hot.

With over 100,000 visitors enjoying dinner at Ruth’s Chris in Aruba in nearly 22 months, the steakhouse has proven to be very successful with Arubans as well as visitors to the island. The celebrations of the 100,000th visitor will conclude with a VIP Reception on Saturday December 12th and a festive drawing of a lucky winner earning 100,000 Marriott Rewards points on December 19th. All visitors to Ruth’s Chris will receive a coupon for every $50 spent and can participate in this grand prize give-away. Promotion ends December 18th.

The steakhouse is open for dinner seven days a week. More information and gift cards can be obtained at www.ruthschris.com or by calling Ruth’s Chris directly at  520 6600 after 1 PM. You can become a friend of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Aruba on Facebook as well.

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino boasts 411 fully renovated guest-rooms - the most spacious on the island - each with large, private balconies overlooking the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea. On property, seven restaurants and cafes provide fare from light to elegant, while the largest casino in Aruba, a 6,500 square-foot spa, renewed free-form swimming pool with cascading waterfalls and high-energy health club offer entertaining diversions. To obtain more information call the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino at 888-PARADISE or visit www.arubamarriott.com.

In pictures: Ruth’s Chris staff and management, Marriott Executive Committee members and the 100,000th visitors Maria and
Gifford Andrew with their best friends Patrick and Suzanne Reilly, honoured as special guests for their loyalty and support.

Aruba’s Beaches In the Process of Becoming ‘Blue Flag’ Certified

Aruba has successfully completed Phase One in the process of having Arashi, Mangel Halto and Baby Beaches become Blue Flag certified, an international certification program of eco labor which upholds quality standards in four main areas: water quality, safety, services and facilities, environmental education & information and environmental management. This six million dollar project is scheduled for completion next year, at which time approved Aruba Beaches will be able to display the prestigious Blue Flag.

The popular Aruba beaches of Arashi, Mangel Halto and Baby Beach were improved through integrated design to achieve better management and conservation of natural resources. This was done by landscaping, designated parking, demarcation of specific zoning for conservation areas, as well as public areas and the placement of facilities and awareness materials. The actual beach area is now wider, with fresh sand and new palapas (shade structures) that have been constructed in an updated style, with durable materials.

“Aruba is on a mission to practice sustainable tourism principles. We want to protect our flora, fauna and our natural resources.  About 20 percent of our land is a national park. Another key natural resource is our pristine white-sand beaches that not only attract visitors from around the world, but are enjoyed by locals as well,” said Myrna Jansen, managing director for the Aruba Tourism Authority. “The Aruba Tourism Authority also organizes The Annual Aruba Reef Care Project, which is the island’s largest volunteer environmental initiative since 1993. Aruba is looking forward to becoming a certified ‘Blue Flag’ beach country and being part of a project that embraces the environmentally-friendly management of one of our most precious treasures, our beaches.”

In Phase Two of the project additional public facilities will be constructed making it possible for Aruba beaches to surpass the requirements of the Blue Flag criteria and obtain certification. These include increased signage to inform the public on natural and cultural facts, public amenities such as restrooms, and obtaining beachcombing machines to maintain beach cleanliness.

Obtaining Blue Flag certification is part of a larger Sustainable Economic Development program in Aruba. Beyond the beach, legislation is being drafted for Marine Park protection status for the island’s entire coastline and the development of better sewage, waste and recycling treatment facilities. The overall project is an investment of over 22 million dollars.

December 1st was a very special day at the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary in St. Lucia.  Volunteers arrived to find a new addition to the group.  Yeeha was born early this morning to Cloudy, a donkey from Noord.  As you can see Yeeha is a very cute baby. The pictures show him when he was only about three or four hours old. He was still very shaky on his legs.  His mom is very protective of him. Everyone is invited to come to the Sanctuary between 9am and 12:30pm Monday through Friday or between 10am and 3pm on Saturday and Sunday to come see Yeeha.

Mother Cloudy and baby Yeeha.

Have Dinner At The Sizzling Steakhouse And Enter To Win 100,000 Marriott Rewards Points

On Friday November 27th the official launch of a unique 100,000 Marriott Rewards points campaign took place at a filled Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The famed restaurant with roots in New Orleans, opened in Aruba in February of 2008 at the Marriott Resort and welcomed nearly 100,000 visitors since its opening date. To celebrate this milestone with loyal customers and say thank you for all the support received, the sizzling steakhouse launched a promotion on Friday night. From now until December 18th all visitors of the restaurant have a chance to win 100,000 Marriott Rewards points which translates to a free stay of up to 7  nights at any Marriott property around the world. The festive drawing of the winner will take place on December 19th. Coupons are provided in the restaurant for every $50 spent.

“We are extremely proud and grateful at the same time that we’ve been able to accommodate almost 100,000 visitors till this day”, says General Manager Eduard Renaud. Off course Ruth’s Chris is a recognizable name and a strong brand in the United States, however here in Aruba the steakhouse had to prove itself. Luckily we succeeded and I must say the success of our steakhouse has even exceeded my expectations. We’ve been trained in the United States and brought the quality of service and food to Aruba. It is very rewarding that people have found their way to Ruth’s Chris and keep coming back for exactly that unique quality we are famous for”.
Spotted during the festive kick-off of the 100,000 Marriott Rewards Points campaign on Friday night were loyal guests Giani Cuilla and his family and friends. Also present was the lovely honeymoon couple from New York, Richard and Marisa Sperber, enjoying a romantic night out at Ruth’s Chris as part of their stay at Marriott’s exclusive Tradewinds Club.

“We warmly invite everybody to come and join us during the upcoming weeks for dinner, as this might be your chance to win those 100,000 Marriott Rewards Points and enjoy a perfect night out at the same time” elaborates Restaurant Manager Christie Roelofsen. “Everybody is welcome and for groups of ten people or more we even offer a 10% discount on the entire check and donate every second bottle of wine order, for free. We do recommend early reservations as the steakhouse can get busy during the month of December.”

The group promotion ends December 15th; the Marriott Rewards Points promotion ends December 18th. Throughout the month of December some additional celebrations will take place to honor loyal visitors, as well as the festive honoring of the actual 100,000 guest who will have dinner at the steakhouse this month. Reservations are taken from 1PM onwards at phone number 520 6600 or by visiting www.ruthschris.com and selecting international locations/Aruba. You can also become friends with Aruba’s Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Facebook. Join at www.facebook.com/pages/Ruths-Chris-Steak-House-Aruba

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino boasts 411 fully renovated guestrooms – the most spacious on the island – each with large, private balconies overlooking the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea. On property, seven restaurants and cafes provide fare from light to elegant, while the largest casino in Aruba, a 6,500 square-foot spa, renewed free-form swimming pool with cascading waterfalls and high-energy health club offer entertaining diversions. To obtain more information call the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino at 888-PARADISE or visit www.arubamarriott.com and www.ParadiseByMarriott.com

Bottom left: Ruth’s Chris hostesses and mgmt. demonstrating coupons
Bottom right: Ruth’s Chris hospitality team

Signature Guitars will be sold in a public auction and all funds shall be donated to the
Mary Joan Breast Cancer Foundation in Aruba - Friday November 27 - 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Click to enlarge

Caribbean destinations are usually equated with perfect sunny weather, sandy beaches and the opportunity to completely disconnect from technology. However, Aruba has broken free of this norm and built a resource to develop an impressive online community through Aruba.com and the new Facebook Connect application. Aruba, the island of 90,000 friends you haven’t met yet, is dedicated to building relationships with friends and visitors online through its virtual community. In fact, Aruba is the first Caribbean destination to create this type of online networking community utilizing Facebook Connect and online profiles.

Facebook Connect lets users share information from their aruba.com profile with their Facebook profile. The reviews, ratings and updates one posts on Aruba.com can be transferred to Facebook profiles, creating excitement about Aruba encouraging their network friends to join the unique online community on aruba.com. Facebook Connect allows Facebook users to read their friends’ first-hand feedback, learn about Aruba’s offerings and provides details about attractions and hotels.

“Adding the Facebook Connect application to Aruba.com heightens the effectiveness of our social networking activities, as new community of past visitors can share their first-hand experiences with the click of a button,” says Myrna Jansen, Director of Aruba Tourism Authority. “Friends are a major component of our marketing and advertising campaigns, so connecting with Facebook friends is a natural way to tout our island of perfect weather, pristine beaches and 90,000 friends you haven’t met yet.”

Aruba has been an innovator in using online sources for its visitors; just a few years ago it stepped up as the first provider of an online destination bridal registry which remains at the top of its game. Additionally, a re-invented website launched in March 2009 that melds social networking with the latest, most comprehensive island information combined with a dynamic commercial booking engine. Facebook Connect is a major step forward in creating a virtual community of friends of Aruba, the island of 90,000 friends you haven’t met yet.

To become a friend of Aruba online, visit www.aruba.com and click the Facebook Connect button on the home page to share information with your personal Facebook profile.

The Aruba Post Office introduced four new stamps commemorating the dolphins (the Stenella frontalis and the Stenella bredanensis) that live in the waters surrounding Aruba. The stamps are 125 cents (shows a close up of the stenella frontalis for greater details), 200 cents (close up of the stenella bredanensis), 300 cents (shows two frontalis dolphins swimming upside down) and 325 cents (shows a group four of adult dolphins and one newborn swimming up and down).

Another set of stamps was also issued commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Biblioteca Nacional Aruba (Aruba National Library). The two stamps, one of 185 cents, show a child reading a book. The 300 cents stamp shows the same child reading a book in present time.

The new stamps are available at postal office locations in Oranjestad, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz and Port of Call. For more information please email at philatelic@postaruba.com or call (297) 582-1900. View the post office website at www.postaruba.com

Mr. James Richard Hepple is the new President and CEO of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA). Hepple is a distinguished tourism professional who holds ample experience in the Caribbean region and comes to Aruba from his last post in Saint Lucia, where he held a key position for the Saint Lucia Tourism Board (since 2007).  In recent years, Hepple has served in tourism director positions with Trinidad & Tobago (2005-2007), Curacao (2001-2005), Bahamas (1993-2001 and 1983-1989), and with Trusthouse Forte Hotels in Bermuda (1989-1991).

The season of the Leatherback Sea Turtle, known as Driekiel is over. A record breaking 72 nests were laid this year as opposed to the more than 48 last year. According to Tortugaruba, only 10 female turtles laid eggs, which in turn is fascinating as some of the turtles laid nine nests (Normally 6-8 nests). Once a turtle nest has been spotted, Turtugaruba monitors and protects the nests with red and white barricades featuring a sign with explanation. To contact Edith, write to turtugaruba@hotmail.com or wal@setarnet.aw or call the turtle hotline at (297) 592-9393.

Underscoring the island’s long-time commitment to high standards in the area of international tax compliance and transparency, Aruba was elevated to ‘White List’ status by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on September 10, 2009.  Aruba’s Minister of Finance, Nilo Swaen, signed new TIEAs with the Nordic Alliance including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, along with the British Virgin Islands and Nevis & St. Kitts.  Aruba signed a TIEA with the U.S. in November 2003 and also has a tax agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba is currently negotiating additional TIEAs with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Mexico.

“We are extremely pleased with this excellent news,” stated Myrna Jansen-Feliciano, managing director of the Aruba Tourism Authority. “These new tax incentives will tremendously benefit the group and meetings/incentives markets, enhancing Aruba’s reputation as a destination that offers much more than just pristine beaches and year-round perfect weather.” Having OECD ‘White List’ status will benefit tourism in Aruba by offering tax incentives to international groups that bring business to the island.  Aruba has dozens of meeting, accommodations and activity options that are attractive for business groups large and small. For example, Aruba will play host to the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE) International Conference from October 30 - November 2, 2009, with over 400 participants expected to attend.  For more information on SITE, visit www.siteglobal.com