The members of the Aruba Timeshare Association, ATSA, convened for a lunch-meeting at La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino with representatives of most of the island’s Vacation Ownership properties, in attendance.
The Food & Beverage brigade of La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino prepared an exceptionally varied and tasty lunch menu, paired with the resort’s signature gracious service and hospitality.
ATSA’s President, Luigi Heredia, Costa Linda Beach Resort, welcomed members just before officially opening the meeting. The business agenda included a presentation of Turtugaruba, and a presentation of the Red Cross Aruba.
Edith van der Wal, Turtugaruba, President, explained it was again the Leatherback Sea Turtle, Driekiel, nesting season in the Caribbean, and it started early — Venezuela and Puerto Rico already reported their first nests of the 2023 season.
Van der Wal hoped for a good turtle-season in Aruba, and explained that it depends GREATLY on human behavior.
Sea turtles, she stated need a dark beach to nest, and she asked all executives present to stand at the water’s edge and look towards their resort and ask themselves if it is a dark enough environment.
Van der Wal continued to ask them to make the beach in front or close to the resorts as dark as possible, and most importantly keep beachfront lighting turned off during the turtle season, March to September, or at least reduce the number of lights reaching the nesting beach.
She asked to lower, shield, or redirect light, and when in doubt, Turtugaruba was available for advice. Other recommendations included placing security lights on motion-sensitive switches that keep lights off when not in use, and turn off all decorative lights during the turtle season, turn off balcony lights when not in use and draw curtains shut after dark to prevent light from interior sources from shining through windows.
Turtugaruba also asked to educate guests about staying at a distance of at least 10 meters from the turtle and refrain from using flashlights or flash photography. The removal of beach chairs and other obstacles from the beach before nightfall, was most important and of course, no motorized vehicles on the beach. Beach cleaning, she advised, should not be done with heavy equipment during sea turtle season. Hand-raking was a much more environmentally friendly alternative.
Turtugaruba asked the forum to report any turtle activity as soon as possible (24/7) to the Turtle Hotline, (+297) 592 9393, and concluded with the slogan: BEWARE, CARE AND DO YOUR SHARE!!
Tracey Werleman, Social Coordinator & Operations Red Cross Aruba, then continued with an extensive presentation about the Red Cross Activities. ATSA, the Aruba Timeshare Association, has been a strategic partner of the Red Cross for the past years, and Werleman thanked ATSA, for renewing their contract to support the organization. With the support of partners, the Red Cross can continue making a difference for the community of Aruba, she stated. .
ATSA also received internal updates from president Luigi Heredia about the upcoming EPB Hospitality Students Orientation Program, at the vacation ownership resorts. The annual initiative to host EPB Oranjestad and EPB St Nicolas students, for a visit at the resorts increases the exposure of the local hotel industry among youths, often planting the seed for future employment possibilities, early on.
Jurgen van Schaijk Amsterdam Manor, updated members regarding the activities of TPEF, the Tourist Product Enhancement Fund and the budget allocated to future projects including those dedicated to Heritage. Environment. Attractions, Contingency, Awareness, Investment, and Beautification. He reported that Eagle Beach, is next on the list and will be upgraded in a few phases. The walkway from the Marriott Stellaris Resort & Casino to Radisson Blu, is also destined for upgrades. All projects will be finances by TPEF but the upkeep will fall on stakeholders, the properties adjacent to the upgraded beaches, including Roger’s Bay and Baby Beach.
Pedro Vargas updated the members regarding the Security Foundation. An agreement has recently been signed between ATA, and the Aruba Hospitality and Security Foundation to increase visibility of law enforcement personnel in the tourist areas.
The meeting was adjourned with the Annual Financial Report 2022, by Jurgen van Schaijk
ATSA was established in 1994, and currently counts the active membership of the majority of vacation ownership properties in Aruba. The Association works on a local level, as a supporting member of AHATA, the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, and with other local organizations as well as Government entities. On a regional level, where Aruba continues to receive recognition as a model vacation ownership destination, ATSA has professional ties with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and also benefits from continuous collaboration with ARDA, the American Resort Development Association.
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