Aruba welcomes
United and US Airways passengers
This past
Saturday and Sunday, November 11 and 12, was a weekend of firsts, with the island
welcoming the inaugural flights of both United Airlines and US
Airways, respectively.
The
United flight will fly henceforth twice weekly, Saturday and Sunday,
direct from Chicago’s O’Hare airport (ORD) to Aruba (AUA) with a 757
aircraft.
The
US Airways flight will be offered daily from Philadelphia
(PHL) to Aruba (AUA) using an A-320 aircraft with 142 seats.
With the
maiden voyages of United Airlines and U.S. Airways reaching a successful conclusion, the
island now counts a total of six U.S. commercial aircrafts that offer service to
the island, including American Airlines (from JFK, Miami and soon Boston
for seasonal service), Delta (from Atlanta and soon from JFK, as of December 1,
2000), TWA (from Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, JFK (NY) and Boston with a
connecting flight through San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Continental Airlines (from
Houston and soon from Newark, as of December 15, 2000).
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Free diving
champions attempt to set new world record in Aruba’s waters
Aruba
will be the site of a free diving event which will take place on November 17 &
18. Five top free divers will compete to set a new world record.
Among the
participants will be Mr. Pipin Ferreras who is currently the World Free
Diving record holder.
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Sonesta
celebrates opening of Okeanos Spa
The
Management of the Sonesta
Resort, recently cut the ribbon for the resort’s new Okeanos Spa.
The spa
will offer will offer services such as facials and massages as well as the facilities of a
full fitness center equipped with male/female locker facilities, a juice bar and the
latest fitness equipment.
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ALM (Antillean
airlines) to offer new route to Amsterdam
Continental
Airlines to introduce new route, Newark, NJ to Aruba.
Continental Airlines recently announced their new service to Newark, starting as
of December 15, 2000.
The
inaugural ceremony promises to be a unique one as Continental executives will arrive in a
1936 DC-3 to attend the festivities. This historic Douglas Aircraft is in excellent
conditions and ready to visit our island.
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Postal Services
of Aruba emitted new stamps
The
Postal Services of Aruba emitted two new stamps to this year’s collection celebrating
the 75 years of Aruba Bank and the 500 years of Alto Vista Chapel.
These
stamps will be available at all post offices until April 19, 2002 or until supply lasts.
For more information about Aruba’s stamps, contact the Philatelic Service (297)
821900.
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Aruba’s
first Eco-Park project
Aruba’s
first Eco-Park project is now in its First phase. The park will be located at the Grapefield
area in San Nicolaas and will offer visitors the possibility to enjoy lush
surroundings.
The
project started during the weekend of September 22-24 with a clean up of the entire area.
The plans for the project, which is headed by the Aruba Environment Foundation
(FAMA), were submitted in 1998 to the government and include the reforestation of
500 grape trees and the introduction of the solar and wind energy
facilities.
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“ONE COOL
HONEYMOON” Program for 2001
Honeymooning
couples have always received the red carpet treatment on Aruba. The island, long thought
of as a couples’ paradise for its idyllic scenery and laid back lifestyle, now offers
even greater amenities through its 2001 One Cool Honeymoon program, now offered
year-round.
To
participate, newlyweds need only identify themselves as such when making reservations and
upon hotel check-in. Added-value
amenities will also be offered by participating island businesses.
They will receive a program brochure describing the offers and Honeymoon ID Card
at the hotels.
Click here for more information
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Air Aruba
Exerpts
from October 26 statement regarding Air Aruba by Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA):
For stranded passengers, AA, TWA and Delta have arranged with the Government to transport
stranded passengers back to the U.S. until Monday, October 30, 2000 with the Government
covering the expenses. Reservations must be made with Air Aruba on island at
011-297-836600. Continental is to assist on a standby basis.
For customers who are scheduled to travel between Oct 23-Nov 15, AA, TWA, Delta and
Continental have agreed to offer the lowest available fare waiving advance purchase
requirements.
There is currently a shortage of seats this coming weekend to transfer passengers
northbound. Additionally there is a large incentive group on -island that needs to return
this weekend to
various different cities.
American has confirmed that they will be putting on larger equipment from Friday through
Sunday. Delta is still exploring upgrading their equipment for this weekend.
Air Aruba refund: Customers need to contact their travel agent or Air Aruba at 1-800-88
ARUBA to apply for a refund on their ticket.
Air Aruba strategies: Air Aruba is in the process of contacting all passengers who have
booked a reservation. They also have staff available at all their gateways (Miami, Newark,
Baltimore,
Philadelphia and Orlando) to assist passengers holding a rservation.
The ATA -NJ Customer Service Dept. is assisting travel agents and customers with their
questions and concerns as much as possible. In addition, a travel agent fax broadcast went
out
to travel agents across the U.S. notifying them of the Air Aruba situation and the steps
being taken to assist stranded passengers and passengers holding an Air Aruba reservation.
Hotel partners have been requested to extend complimentary rooms to stranded passengers as
well as waive cancellation/ no show penalty fees for Air Aruba passengers holding Air
Aruba
tickets and who are unable to secure alternate air.
[as posted by Richard Booth on aruba-bb.com on Friday, October 27, 2000 at 12:16 p.m.]
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Aruban student
invents “Law of Lo” mathematical formula
Aruban
teenager Thanney Lo, a student at the Middle Technical School, proved his
superb mind for mathematics by taking a complicated calculation and creating a new, more
efficient formula. His “Law of Lo” represents a much simpler
process of electricity resistance calculation normally deduced through the “Law
of Maxwell,” which requires some three pages of separate detailed
calculations.
After
having his calculation evaluated and put to the test, it was determined that he had indeed
invented a new mathematical formula, for which he now holds the copyright.
Lo, who
is now in his third year of high school (he had come up with the formula while still a
sophomore), intends to continue his higher education in either the U.S. or Holland and to
study Robotics, hoping to someday land a dream job with NASA. But wherever his career path
takes him, this Aruban youth will undoubtedly go far.
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Aruba Showed an
Increase in Visitors, Consumer Index for the month of August
According
to the Central Bank of Aruba’s August monthly bulletin, the money supply for Aruba
increased by Afls 26.3 million (1.5%) to Afls 1,805.5 million, as a result of an Afls 41.6
million net domestic money creation, which was partly compensated for by an Afls 15.3
outflow of funds abroad.
According
to the article in The News, during the first eight months of the years, overall credit
growth was 10.9 %, clearly above the 8% guideline for 2000 as determined by the bank.
In the
month under review, the number of visitor nights increased by 2.5% to 495,177, compared to
5.7% the year before. The US and Venezuelan markets contributed to the increase, and it is
important to mention that Aruba has not yet entered its “high season.”
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CFATF held
conference in Aruba
The Caribbean
Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the aim of which is to stem international
crime such as money laundering, held its conference here in Aruba, October 14-20.
Aruba has
taken a lead role in the CFATF by assuming the presidency of this regional branch of the
respected international Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Efforts on-island to combat
international crime includes the obligation of local banks and monetary institutions to
red flag any unusual transactions and the monitoring of all large sum transactions by the
regulatory commission of MOT. Other positive steps that have been taken
on Aruba include the strengthening of its Customs and Police Departments, and the
establishment on-island of US Customs and Forward Operation
Location (FOL) which allows US planes to patrol the area for possible drug, and
other illegal goods, transport.
Aruba’s
representative in the FATF is Roy Wever, a respected speaker for his
knowledge and direct involvement within Aruba’s legislative process.
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Aruba wraps ups a
successful second edition of the annual Festival de Las Americas
The main
concerts of the Festival de Las Americas, Friday, October 6, and
Saturday, October 7, proved a success with over 5,000 concertgoers recorded on each
evening. The large number of both local residents and visitors attending the event can be
attributed to the exciting line-up of such famous Latin artists as Olga Tañon,
Carlos Vives and Gilberto Santa Rosa.
The third edition of the Festival de Las Americas is planned for October 4 - 6,
2001.
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Kassav to perform
this November
In its 3rd Aruba appearance, Kassav
will entertain its audience with its blend of Soca-like rhythms and French lyrics on November
3, at the Joe Laviest Ballpark in San Nicolas.
The ever-popular local bands of OREO
and Climax will perform as opening acts. Tickets for the event are US$20.
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On Land, At Sea,
and In The Paddock
On Sunday November 5, 2000, Eetcafé The Paddock
will be celebrating it's 11th year of existence and is organizing the sixth consecutive
water spectacle: "On Land, At Sea and In The Paddock."
Nine teams of six participants each will be competing in an
event that will be taking place on the water in front of The Paddock. There will be giant
slides filled with slippery soap, rubber boats, water bicycles, floating mats, as well as
many other water toys!
The proceeds of this event will be donated to a good cause.
In previous years, The Paddock has donated the proceeds of this event to help hurricane
victims of St. Maarten, to assist the purchase of a bus
for the disabled, to purchase new uniforms for the youthful members of the Odessa
organization and also to purchase a much anticipated new rowing boat for the FARVA
foundation for the mentally handicapped. Last year for example, The Paddock
donated a big screen TV as well as an alarm system to the Arco Iris kindergarten.
This year The Paddock would like to donate the proceeds of this event to yet another good
cause - The Maris Stella Foundation for the elderly. The foundation would
like to install a new sound system to simultaneously broadcast Sunday Mass to all the
rooms in the building. The goal is to have this sound system installed before Christmas,
so that even those that are restricted to their beds can still enjoy the Church's
Christmas activities and listen to the beautiful christmas melodies.
There will be activities for young and old, from T-shirt
painting, Face painting, hotdog eating contests (20 hotdogs in 1
minute!), and so much more ... more than 100 local businesses have agreed to contribute
with great prizes ranging from week-end stays to airline tickets, dinner vouchers,
sailing trips, kitchen appliances and many other prizes. The event is open to the
public in general.
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Heineken Music
Festival will return in 2001 for its 13th edition
The 13th edition of the Heineken Music Festival
will take place in 2001 at the Don Elias Mansur Ballpark in Dakota on July 6.
The event, to be billed as “All Generations Beer,” will feature international
talent, famous from the 1970s/1980s.
Local bands will also be featured during the festival. For
more information on the event, contact Ruben “Scorpio” Garcia
at garcias@setarnet.aw.
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DID YOU KNOW THAT
?????
- Aruba will be welcoming “St. Nicolaas” to the
island on December 5th
- Aruba’s Carnival Season officially started on November
11 at exactly 11:00 PM
- Aruba will be welcoming its 1 million visitor in November
- A “Pollo Tropical” franchise has opened in Aruba
- La Cabana now offers a Sushi Bar in their lobby
- Mr. Eduardo de Veer is stepping down as the President of the
Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association after two years
- Radisson Aruba is now officially open
- The Windsurf Village is now called Aruba Beach Villas
- Café Bahia is now serving local cuisine to its visitors
- The FDLA broke last year’s record in ticket’s
sales
- You can take salsa classes in Aruba
- Atlanta Braves player Andruw Jones visited Aruba
- Hyatt Regency Aruba celebrated its 10th anniversary
- Labco/D’Yvonnes is now renting equipment for disabled
visitors
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