Exhibitor Spotlight: Aruba
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Tell us a bit about Aruba’s MICE offering:
The closest thing to perfect is only an imagination until selecting Aruba as your destination. Consider our unparalleled safety, linguistic prowess, state-of-the-art meeting facilities and top-notch hotel brands, year-round travel options via multiple direct flights, as well as our culinary variety or the wealth of cultural, wellness and activities your group can enjoy, on land or at sea.
Is there anything new happening in Aruba?
Aruba is set to welcome several new hotels in 2024 and 2025, enhancing its appeal as a prime destination for travellers. Here's an overview of the upcoming openings:
1. St. Regis Aruba: This highly anticipated luxury resort is expected to debut by the end of 2024. Located on Palm Beach, the St. Regis Aruba will offer 220 luxury rooms along with five-star amenities, including top-tier dining, a spa, and pool facilities. https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auaxr-the-st-regis-aruba-resort/overview/
2. JOIA Aruba by Iberostar: Scheduled to open this November, this adults-only resort will feature 240 premium suites. Located across from Eagle Beach, the resort will include access to the Tierra del Sol golf course, multiple restaurants, bars, pools, and a spa. This will be the first Iberostar property in the Dutch Caribbean. https://www.iberostar.com/en/hotels/eagle-beach/joia-aruba-by-iberostar/
3. Secrets Baby Beach Aruba: Another notable addition is the Secrets Baby Beach Aruba, part of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection. Opening in 2025, it will initially offer 304 rooms, with plans to expand to 900 rooms. This development aims to transform the San Nicolas area into a significant tourist destination.
These new properties will provide a range of luxury and all-inclusive options, further diversifying Aruba's accommodation offerings and boosting its tourism infrastructure.
What makes Aruba such a great destination for meetings and events?
Aruba is known for many breathtaking unique attributes, things such as its glorious award-winning beaches, top-notch hotel chains and safety. But we feel our One Happy Island spirit is what elevates our hospitality and is why planners choose to bring clients back to Aruba again and again. It’s the feeling you get when you step onto its sunny shores and that remains with you long after you depart. With its clear skies, cooling trade winds and balmy temperatures, Aruba is blessed with the most sunshine in the Caribbean yet lies outside of the Hurricane belt.
What else does Aruba offer visitors?
From festivals and art to food from all over the world, there is something for everyone on this lovely island. Curioso means curious in Papiamento – the island’s official language - and it perfectly describes Aruba’s spirit of adventure. From world-class watersports to horse-riding, mountain biking, cliff jumping and wreck diving, there are activities galore. And if you prefer a gentler pace, there are tropical spas, yoga and Qi Gong on the beach and beautiful landscapes to explore. Take a private nature tour in Arikok National Park, where the beautiful Caribbean beaches give way to rugged deserts, towering green cacti and limestone cliffs. Perfect for bird watching and learning more about the local flora and fauna. This is also where you’ll find the Fontein Caves and Conchi, the Natural Pool, two of its most unspoiled wonders.
What are you keen to tell visitors to The Meetings Show?
British Airways has launched a new flight route from London Gatwick to Aruba, which began in March 2023. This service is available twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. This new route is operated by a Boeing 777-200 aircraft and marks an important addition to Aruba’s air service, providing a year-round connection as opposed to the seasonal service offered by TUI from London Gatwick. This new connection is expected to boost tourism and provide greater access for European travellers to Aruba.
We’ll also be talking about Aruba Convention Bureau's cash incentive for European events! This attractive offer is designed to support and encourage our #OneHappyPlanners to convert their groups to Aruba.
