Recognized for exceptional service and luxury hospitality on Aruba’s famed Eagle Beach, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, has once again earned the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Recommended designation, reaffirming its standing among the world’s most exceptional luxury hospitality

experiences.

How Forbes Travel Guide evaluates the world’s exceptional hotels Forbes Travel Guide is regarded as the independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruise ships. Each year, its anonymous inspectors visit properties around the world, evaluating them against as many as 900 objective standards that prioritize genuine service and the overall guest experience.

Inspectors stay at least two nights and pay their own way, ensuring every rating reflects the same experience a traveler would have.

A globally respected benchmark for luxury hospitality In its official listing, Forbes Travel Guide highlights Bucuti & Tara as a 14-acre adults-only beachfront retreat located on the widest stretch of Eagle Beach.

Known for its peaceful atmosphere and romantic focus, the resort offers an intimate experience with just 104 rooms, where personalized service and environmental leadership go hand in hand.

Forbes also recognized Bucuti & Tara as the Caribbean’s first and only certified carbon-neutral hotel and one of the region’s most eco-certified properties.

As the first hotel to receive the United Nations 2020 Climate Neutral Now Award, an honor typically reserved for large global corporations, this recognition is something the team holds with deep gratitude. It reflects a continued commitment to doing what is right for Aruba’s environment, while demonstrating that even a small, boutique resort can contribute meaningfully on a global stage. In doing so, Bucuti & Tara has helped set a new standard for responsible luxury hospitality, while protecting the island’s natural beauty for generations to come.

“Forbes Travel Guide represents one of the most respected authorities in luxury hospitality,” said Crescenzia Biemans, Managing Director of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. “Being recognized once again is a meaningful moment for our team and one we receive with gratitude. It reflects the dedication of our Bucuti Associates, whose genuine care and attention to detail create an environment where guests feel truly welcomed, valued, and deeply connected during some of the most special moments of their lives.”

Hospitality that makes guests feel valued

Among the inspector’s highlights, Bucuti & Tara’s strong service culture and standout culinary experiences are defining elements of the guest journey. Service that creates meaningful guest experiences is central to the Forbes Travel Guide inspection process, which emphasizes how hospitality makes guests feel during their stay. Bucuti Associates consistently deliver thoughtful and intuitive service that transforms everyday moments into lasting memories.

During the inspection, Bucuti Associate, Juan Vasquez, was recognized by inspectors as a standout staff member. “He remained professional at all times and provided efficient service. He made us feel appreciated. We loved his positive attitude every morning.”

Moments like these illustrate the spirit of hospitality that defines Bucuti & Tara, where every guest receives attentive care while enjoying the natural beauty and tranquility of Eagle Beach.

Where serenity, romance and nature come together A serene Caribbean escape defined by romance, wellness and sustainability, Bucuti & Tara offers beachfront and gardenview accommodations, a comprehensive wellness program customized to each guest, exclusive romantic offerings and exceptional dining led by the resort’s celebrated culinary team at Elements Restaurant and the recently debuted Terra by Jeremy Ford.

Together with its leadership in sustainable tourism and dedication to guest wellbeing, Bucuti & Tara continues to deliver a refined Caribbean escape where service, serenity and sustainability exist in harmony.

Learn more at Bucuti.com.

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 Resorts in attendance.

They were welcomed by ATSA president, Sulaika Kelly, Playa Linda.

Among special guests for the March meeting, PFTSA, the Pension Fund Tourism Sector Aruba. Executive Director Natalia Lacle who joined the fund in 2020 as Pension Manager and became its Executive Director in 2024, came to the ATSA meeting to present the proposed changes suggested to the fund by the Aruba Government.

In her role as Executive Director Lacle nurtures relationships with 140 member companies and more than 6,000 active members. She oversees 17,000 policies and assets more than Awg 250 million. The fund is stable and strong, she explained, dedicated to serving all its members who save for their retirement and those who enjoy favorable mortgage terms.

PFTSA was founded in 1992 as an initiative of Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association and the FTA union, seeing that both shared the same vision in terms of the need to create a pension plan that will provide workers in the tourism industry an additional income after retirement, on top of the general old age pension, AOV, saved by the employer and employed, and paid out by the government.

At the meeting, Lacle explained pensions in general. She then outlined the proposed amendments to the National Ordinance General Pension. She talked extensively about the activities and services of the pension fund and the added value it brings to its members as a not-for-profit organization.

While the changes are minor, she stated, they will take time, since a lengthy process must take place before the amendments to the National Ordinance General Pension are introduced.

In addition to the information shared regarding pensions the forum also approved the ATSA meeting minutes from February, and received committee update presentations, as well as resorts’ updates.

Board Treasurer Jurgen van Schaijk, reported that the TPF activities are on hold until new board members are introduced. Aruba’s Tourism Product Enhancement Fund is involved with many beautification projects and has submitted its suggestions waiting for them to be approved by the new board.

All board members agreed that a revised beach policy with clear rules must be complied and made public as soon as possible. It must be adopted by all stakeholders, including DIP, the department of infrastructure and planning, as well as KPA, the local police. The revised policy must also address gasoline pollution from watersports activities, the kind of suntan lotions available for sale on the island and safety preoccupations, among many other pending issues.

Members were reminded of the upcoming turtle nesting season and their commitment to be mindful and dim lights, in protection of the island’s annual visitor.

The Security foundation, operating the Tourism Security Patrol Aruba will be expanding its activities to cover more areas, in the tourist zones.

Regarding the activities of AWSS, Aruba Water Sustainable Solution, real progress was reported, and members are satisfied with the level of cooperation with that new company, working on sustainable wastewater management at three points on the island, in St Nicolas, Parkietenbos and Bubali.

In the free word round table discussions all resorts reported great improvements and upgrades to their facilities, including improved WIFI capabilities, digital communications, solar panel installation, improved streaming in rooms, new elevators, painted interiors and exteriors, handicapped bathrooms, recycling of glass and aluminum, new windows and doors, even a syntropic agroforestry garden at La Quinta growing fresh vegetables for the resident restaurant and staffers, and plans to attract younger demographics to the timeshare resorts.

ATSA was set up in 1994, and currently counts the active membership of the majority of vacation ownership properties in Aruba. The Association works on a local level 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 ARDA, the American Resort Development Association.

The ATSA Board members: Sulaika Kelly, President, Rina Geerman, Secretary, Pedro Vargas, Board member, Jurgen van Schaijk, Treasurer and Luigi Heredia, Board member.

The minister of Infrastructure Rene Herde finally reported the truth this week: Aruba is facing a major infrastructure maintenance backlog estimated at around Awg 500 million, which will require a long-term national recovery program spanning many years. If not addressed in time, the total financial and social cost could rise to about Awg 1.2 billion.

This backlog is not about new projects, but about repairing and maintaining existing infrastructure that is essential for daily life, such as roads, drainage systems, sewage, public buildings, and neighborhoods. The problem has built up over many years and cannot be solved quickly.

The effects are already visible across Aruba, including:

Damaged roads with potholes and cracks

Flooding in neighborhoods

Poor accessibility to neighborhoods

Deteriorating public buildings and housing

Lack of parking

Reduced traffic safety

Declining public spaces

What could have been fixed with regular maintenance now requires much larger structural investments.

Of the estimated AWG 500 million backlog:

Awg 375 million is for essential infrastructure (roads, drainage, government buildings, etc.)

Awg 125 million is for neighborhoods and urban centers.

Roads are the biggest issue, with hundreds of kilometers in poor condition. Basic repairs alone are costly, and full reconstruction could make expenses much higher.

A key point is that delaying maintenance increases costs significantly—every florin not spent today could cost 3 to 4 times more in the future.

The current estimate is still incomplete and may rise, as it does not yet fully include areas like sports facilities, cultural infrastructure, some schools, and housing needs.

Overall, Aruba faces a national infrastructure challenge for the next decade, requiring large, consistent investments. Without action, costs will keep rising, and the country’s quality of life and future development will be negatively affected.

End of press release!!

The press release was detailed and indicated prices of everything, above is just the summary, but from the summary you can infer the size of the disaster.

Let us be honest, above is the only actual physical work that GOA is responsible for, meaning infrastructure assets management, BUT that has never been done.

Now we get to pay for it, 3 to 4 times more. if we had just demanded regular maintenance, this technical infrastructural deficit, building up over 30 years, could have been prevented.

We should have maintained wastewater equipment, it should have been on the balance sheet of our country, but no, no one paid attention to that.

In essence, the minister just confessed an Awg 500 million debt, kept hidden from the public.

We have been paying for infrastructure upkeep, but the monies were wasted.

Each year GOA collects 25 million florins for road tax.

Was that invested in roads in the last 20 years?

That would be Awg 500 million right there.

What about the accijns or gasoline tax collected by GOA…

How much is that?

And how much of that has been invested onto our roads?

Invested, or put back into the roads by upgrading?

Close to zero.

It is all burnt on what???

United Force Foundation Aruba is an officially registered foundation here, it is headquartered at Esso Heights, San Nicolas. One of its early projects is a Pasa Dia by the name of Sunshine House, close to Congoweg, up the street from the Peking restaurant, on Weverstraat. I heard about it from artist Vanessa Paulina whose mother visits the facility, run by a tireless hospitality veteran, now retired Joyce Charles.

I had the privilege to visit the place. It is a residential house, converted into a semi-comfortable Pasa Dia, where the elderly can spend the day, doing crafts, talking, and sharing a modest meal prepared by Joyce and her volunteers.

This is a shoestring budget operation.

I called a few people about it, but no one gets back. They are busy.

So I decided to tell you anyway, without much detail.

The Rotarians, Lions or Kiwanis, might want to pick up the glove.

The Pasa Dia concept, for elderly with cognitive difficulties, was promoted by the former Minister Ursell Arends, in his role as Minister of Elderly Affairs, but true to tradition here, all previous plans were scrapped as soon as there was a government change.

Minister Arends had a Dutch expert on the island, Lia de Jongh, planning and strategizing improvements in the life of the elderly, but she left with the outgoing minister and created a void.

The elderly were sent back into isolation, boredom, and rejection.

In Savaneta and Santa Cruz there are two successful psycho-social centers, Mama Ties and Cas Marie, they are supported by private foundations. These two homes function as Pasa Dias, a kind of day-care for adults, suffering from initial stages of dementia & Alzheimer.

Sunshine House is a non-profit struggling to find support. It traces its roots to a temporary Pasa Dia address at the Red Cross office in San Nicolas. It has been operating on Weverstraat, for a few months, a few days a week, and it needs more support from the community. Sunshine home invites dementia sufferers to exercise a bit, socialize and spend time during the day, while their family members are at work. They are encouraged to do what brings them joy, crafts, cooking, exercising, dancing, solving puzzles, and interacting with each other and big-hearted volunteers.

Former Minister Arends, said at the time that his office is planning to open more, similar Pasa Dia facilities, in every barrio on the island, because the need is big. Dementia and Alzheimer sufferers need constant care, and with the availability of Pasa Dias, their adult children can entrust ailing parents or senior family members to a reputable, responsible organization, and go about their day, benefiting from a break of worrying about their loved ones.

Joyce is hopeful the foundation treasurer Nathalie Rietman will come up with some funding. I hope so too!!

Fernando Vermeer’s IMAGEN

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/fernando-vermeers-imagen/

Saba open House

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/saba-open-house/

Therapy? Retail!

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/therapy-retail/

Aruba Stands at a Crossroads in Its Tourism Evolution

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/aruba-stands-at-a-crossroads-in-its-tourism-evolution/

Fashion Soirée at the Renaissance Mall

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/fashion-soiree-at-the-renaissance-mall/

Our Airport Moving in the Right Direction

https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/our-airport-moving-in-the-right-direction/