|
|
Welcome to the
Visit Aruba Newsletter!
This section will be updated regularly, so keep coming back...
News
Briefs for June 1-30, 2000
- Aruba Hi-Winds Competition
The 14th edition of the Aruba Hi-Winds
windsurfing competition is the focal point of island activity as the colorful
sails of local and international athletes take to Aruba's seas, June 8 - 15.
- Perrier Reef Care Project 2000
For the seventh straight year, the Perrier
Reef Care Project will work towards environmental awareness of
the island's beaches and reefs. A two-day clean up, expected to draw 600
participants, including visitors, local divers and scout groups, will take place July
1 and 2, affecting a change at the island's most popular sites.
- Aruba's culinary team is ready to
compete
The Seaport Conference Center was a flurry of activity during the recent Aruba
Culinary Competition and Food & Beverage Trade Show, June 1 -2, organized and
sponsored by the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association and the Aruba Gastronomic
Association.
- Allegro is now part of Occidental
Hotels
The Allegro Aruba, along with the 24 other
all-inclusive properties in the Allegro chain (17 of which are found in the Caribbean),
was recently acquired by the Spanish company of Occidental Hotels.
Air Aruba - significant route
changes
As from September 1, 2000, Air Aruba will discontinue
airlift out of Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Plans for Fort Lauderdale hub also postponed.
Air Aruba announced in a press release its plans to discontinue airlift out of
Philadelphia and Baltimore. This is mainly due to the recent plans of US Airways to
start daily, non-stop, direct flights out of Philadelphia per November 12, 2000.
Furthermore, Delta will also be providing airlift out of JFK New
York and Continental out of Newark.
Due to increasing available airplane seats out of the United States, Air Aruba will now
concentrate on other more profitable markets.
Air Aruba has also decided to postpone the opening of flights from Fort Lauderdale,
FL and has also discontinued flights between Aruba and Isla Margarita as
from June 1st, 2000.
In the coming days, Air Aruba will be publishing a new schedule with will
show several significant changes. The new schedule will reflect the airline's recognition
of the need for flexibility in a competitive aviation market, while
also keeping in mind the obligations as Aruba's national airline.
For more information please contact Air Aruba at airaruba@visitaruba.com
Back to top
Festival de Las Americas" to
be a major musical event
The second annual "Festival de Las Americas,"
bringing the best of Latin music to Aruba, will take place this year October 4 -7 with an
exciting line-up of artists. Undoubtedly the biggest nights will be Friday, October 6,
with performances by Olga Taņon and Gilberto Santa Rosa,
and Saturday, October 7, bringing to the Aruba stage, Tito Rojas, Sound
by Four and Carlos Vives. Enthusiasm is also high for the
October 5th "Boleras Night," featuring local and international talent.
Each evening will be four-hour-plus music extravaganza to be held in Aruba's Don Elias
Mansur Ballpark.
For more information, contact ATA Special Events Director Chido Henriquez
at c.henriquez@toaruba.com.
Back to top
Aruba Hi-Winds Competition
The 14th edition of the Aruba Hi-Winds windsurfing
competition is the focal point of island activity as the colorful sails of local
and international athletes take to Aruba's seas, June 8 - 15. Races
include slalom, course racing, long distance and free style in various categories,
including women's, men's, juniors, masters and supermasters.
Watching the scoreboard and in for the fun are
international press members, including "Off Shore" magazine
from Brazil and from Argentina, the magazine "Aire Y Sol,"
newspaper "La Nacion," and T.V. crew of "El Faro."
For more information about the competition or to view race results as they come in, visit
the website www.aruba-hiwinds.com
Back to top
Perrier Reef Care Project 2000
For the seventh straight year, the Perrier Reef
Care Project will work towards environmental awareness of the
island's beaches and reefs. A two-day clean up, expected to draw 600
participants, including visitors, local divers and scout groups, will take place July
1 and 2, affecting a change at the island's most popular sites.
Integral to the project is the volunteer efforts of local
dive operators who will lead groups in different zones. Groups will consist of divers,
snorkelers and topsiders cleaning debris from the island's coast. Feeding this
working crew are the F&B Departments of participating resorts, who will provide
beverages and lunch boxes to the different groups. Licores Aruba is once
again the main sponsor of the event, helping to promote the activity devoted to bringing
attention to our precious marine resources.
For more on the Reef Care Project contact project leader Castro
Perez at c.perez@toaruba.com.
Back to top
Aruba to welcome new US Airways
service
As of November 12, 2000, Aruba will
welcome visitors traveling on US. Airways new daily, non-stop flight, Philadelphia
to Aruba.
US Airways is the fifth largest airline in the world in
terms of passengers boarded and has the most comprehensive route network throughout the
eastern United States of any airline and serves most major cities in the western US from
its hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. For additional information, you
can visit the website: www.usairways.com.
Back to top
Aruba's culinary team is ready to
compete
The Seaport Conference Center was a flurry of activity during the recent Aruba
Culinary Competition and Food & Beverage Trade Show, June 1 -2, organized and
sponsored by the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association and the Aruba Gastronomic
Association.
The Third Annual Food & Beverage Trade Show offered
plenty of surprises, food, drink, demonstrations and a wealth of product information. The
accompanying competition, following Caribbean Hotel Association rules, helped name Aruba's
National Culinary Team consisting of:
Chef Arno ten Thij (gold medal winner) representing Tierra del Sol,
Pastry Chef Efi Croes (gold) from the Hyatt, "Commis"
(Assistant Chef) Hector Vazquez (silver) also of the Hyatt and Bartender Alexander
Myer (gold) of Tierra del Sol. The waitperson, destined to accompany the national
team in regional competition later this year, will be selected during a future
competition.
Back to top
Allegro is now part of Occidental
Hotels
The Allegro Aruba, along with the 24 other all-inclusive
properties in the Allegro chain (17 of which are found in the Caribbean), was recently
acquired by the Spanish company of Occidental Hotels.
Occidental, which already owns a total of 53 hotels located
in diverse locations, including Spain, Portugal, The Caribbean, Tunisia, Morocco, Central
and South America, intends to carry out both medium- to large-scale renovations on
its newly-acquired properties.
Back to top
$AVE in Aruba!
Your VisitAruba Plus card is a convenient and
effective way to get the most out of your Aruba vacation with significant discounts and
special offers on hotel accommodations, car rental, watersports, sailing and party
cruises, spa treatments, entertainment, casinos, shopping and more! PLUS as a
cardmember you will be automatically entered in regular raffles to win a FREE
FLIGHT to Aruba!
The 2000 card is being offered for a limited time at an introductory price of just US$10!
Take advantage of this introductory offer to get your VisitAruba
Plus card including shipping and handling* for a limited time only at this
special price. You can even ask for your card to be delivered to your hotel to be ready
for you once you arrive in Aruba.
*FREE shipping and handling applies to orders from the United States only.
A night at one of the hotels, a meal at one of the participating restaurants, or a trip to
one of the participating shops is all it takes to recover the price of your VisitAruba Plus card. In most cases, by using your card
just once only, you will have recovered the cost, and after that it's pure savings over
and over again since you can use it as many times as you like and always receive the
discounts.
As a cardmember you will receive your personalized VisitAruba Plus
card. Present your card at participating locations to take advantage of discounts and
special offers. The 2000 card is valid for UNLIMITED USE until December 1st, 2000. For
more details and ordering, see the VisitAruba Plus section.
Back to top
Back to latest News
Selected News courtesy of ATA Newsletter
Editors:
Doreen Boekhoudt & Nathalie Fingal-Maduro
|
