What’s New in Aruba in 2007? Island Update Shows Booming Tourist Economy, Growing Visitor Numbers, New Air Service &More

Aruba’s a hit in 2007!

This year has proven to be a success with the tourism industry booming, from significant growth in visitor arrival numbers and major hotel and resort renovations to brand-new air service and much more. Aruba remains a vacationer’s paradise with vigorous 4.17% growth in U.S. arrivals through July of 2007 year-to-date, translating into 12,497 additional U.S. travelers to the island. The year kicked off with a robust January and February that saw a 6.52% and 6.13% increase in arrivals (respectively), followed by a strong 10.15% spike in March. Summer travelers from the United States flocked to the Caribbean island in June, as the month saw an incredible 9.26% increase, while July saw a steady 2.61% upswing in U.S. arrivals. Worldwide numbers are already up 6.88% over last year as of July, showcasing Aruba’s strengthening international appeal.

Key developments on Aruba include:

Hotels and Resorts

- In July 2007, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino began $40 million in enhancements, scheduled for completion by summer 2008, during which the resort will renovate all 413 guest rooms.

- The Westin Aruba Resort entered the second phase of a $16 million renovation. Guestrooms and suites have been upgraded with new furnishings and amenities including 32” flat screen televisions, marble baths, Westin’s Heavenly Bath® products and signature Heavenly Beds®. Renovations to the lobby and public spaces will be completed in December 2007.

- The Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort Aruba has nearly completed its three-year, $15 million makeover program, featuring a new marine theme in its updated guest rooms, restaurants, and meeting spaces.

- In April, the Casa del Mar Beach Resort converted all 147 rooms, including stores, gym, members lounge and more into a “Pure Allergy Friendly Resort.”

- The RIU Palace Aruba opened in July as a luxury all-inclusive resort with tropical landscaped grounds, an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, casino, on-site PADI dive and water sports center, a number restaurants and more. The new resort offers 450 luxury guest rooms.

- The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino has completed a $20 million renovation of its guest rooms and bathrooms, suites, Palms Restaurant and Bar, and open-air lobby Alfresco Bar and hosted a soft opening in October. The new look is set to officially debut in early 2008.

- The Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Aruba completed renovations on its 23 standard studios. Studios now offer new furniture and tiling, bathroom appliances, modern kitchens with granite tops, and flat screen televisions.

Air Service

- JetBlue Airways announced the first-ever Saturday service from Boston’s Logan International Airport to Aruba starting on June 30 and added three more flights per week as of November 1 on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

- American Airlines reinstated nonstop service from Boston’s Logan International Airport in October and offers service five times per week on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Spirit Airlines began Saturday nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale on November 10.

- United Airlines will increase service from Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC to six times per week as of December 15.

Restaurants and Culture

- A new fine-dining restaurant, Windows on Aruba, opened in April 2007. Located at The Links at Divi Aruba, Windows on Aruba is a stylish glass-wrapped contemporary restaurant showcasing full views of the ocean and golf course with night lighting of the ninth hole and a circular dining room with elevated two-story atrium.

- The Cinemas at Paseo Herencia opened in June with six new theatres accommodating a total of 860 moviegoers. The cinema features the latest releases as well as acclaimed foreign films.

- Paseo Herencia also pays tribute to island heritage with bi-monthly cultural events, an Aruba Hall of Fame highlighting Aruban pioneers, an open-air amphitheater and a fountain water show.

- To cater to the island’s growing luxury market, the Renaissance Aruba Mall & Marketplace and Paseo Herencia welcomed exclusive brand name stores for the first time ever, including Louis Vuitton, Salvatorre Feragamo, Chopard, David Yurman, Lacoste, Gucci, Diesel, Furla and more.

- The Bon Bini Festival in Fort Zoutman, the oldest building on Aruba, features a weekly local folkloric music and dance festival where visitors can catch the flavor of the island, its people, music, cuisine and hospitality.

“2007 has been a resoundingly successful year for Aruba’s tourism industry. This year Aruba’s visitor statistics have continued to significantly climb over last year, proving that the island’s consistent product improvements and upgrades result in higher arrival numbers and happy vacationers,” said Managing Director for the Aruba Tourism Authority, Myrna Jansen. “We are proud to welcome guests to the island with renovated hotels and resorts, new restaurants, and a number of new flights making it even easier to get to Aruba.”