In preparation for the upcoming soft opening of the new U.S. Check-In Terminal at Queen Beatrix International Airport, Aruba Airport Authority N.V. (AAA) welcomed members of the local press for an exclusive site visit. This tour offered an inside look at the state-of-the-art check-in hall and advanced baggage handling system, key components of Phase 1A of the Gateway 2030 Project.

 The event began with information and presentations on the Gateway 2030 Project and the extensive preparations for the terminal’s opening, delivered by Barbara Brown, Chief Revenue Development & Communications Officer; Gilbert Rafael, Chief Development & Technology Officer; and Marylou van der Linden, Operations Manager. Following this, Julian Chung, Project Executive, led a guided tour of the new baggage handling system, highlighting its advanced features designed to streamline the passenger experience.

 Timeline for Opening

The opening is scheduled for April 8, 2025, when Delta, United, Southwest, and Spirit will begin operations in the new check-in hall. The full transition, including JetBlue and American Airlines, will take place on April 29, 2025, marking a major milestone in the airport’s modernization efforts. By the end of May, all U.S.-bound passengers will benefit from a simplified check-in process, eliminating the need to reclaim or drop off luggage after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screening and removing secondary security checks.

 As the transition approaches, Aruba Airport will be actively communicating with passengers through various channels to ensure they know where to go and what to expect. Detailed information, including signage and social media updates will guide travelers through the new check-in process, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience.

With the opening just days away, Aruba Airport is finalizing preparations to ensure a seamless transition for airlines and passengers alike. The Gateway 2030 Project remains a testament to the airport’s vision of providing a world-class travel experience while enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

 For updates, visit www.airportaruba.com or follow us on social media.

The airport invited a group of press people on Wednesday to announce they are almost ready for the launch of their brand-new U.S. check-in terminal!

To ensure a seamless transition, the airport conducted a series of tests, and tried to fine-tune operations before the official opening.

The following schedule was made available, April 8, soft opening with Delta, United, Southwest & Spirit; April 29, full transition of all U.S. carriers and May, the new wing will be fully operational.

AAA’s management working under a Supervisory Board publishes frequent updates about the execution of the much-touted Gateway 2030 project, built in phases, now concluding its second year of construction, with a budget of 143 million. A phased approach helped to better control and manage the enormous undertaking, it also allowed the opportunity to embed new insights in following phases during this multiyear project.

As it turned out, in the high season of 2025, the Aruba Airport almost maxed its capacity realizing that when Gateway 2030 was conceived, its authors were short-sighted, they never realized the island would recover as fast as it did, and they never envisioned such a demand as the one we have witnessed last year, and in the winter months of 2025.

BUT…. Things seem to be cooling down. February 2024 was busier than February 2025 and according to forecasts the American appetite for travel has subside a bit in the wake of shaken consumer confidence, in the USA.

Originally, Beatrix 2030 was part of the airport’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. The brand-new U.S. check-in terminal for airline and passenger operations, was a welcome development.

In recent weeks, they practiced in the new terminal with faux passengers and volunteers evaluating all aspects including the baggage handling system and passenger flow. The trials, they explained, provided valuable insights into the efficiency and effectiveness of the new facilities, ensuring that all systems are perfected for the official launch.

Amen.

I just recently read that the airport in Austin Texas is spending $241M doing what Reina Beatrix is doing and it has been facing continuous challenges, tweaking nonstop, including a recent pipe leak, which caused the closing of the airport and flight delays.

Keep fingers crossed.

But hopefully the rollout here will be successful thanks to resolute airline partners and ground handlers, who supported and trained for the BIG day.

As of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the soft opening will begin. On this date, all airlines with General Air Services as ground handler will transition to the new check-in terminal, including Delta, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit. By Tuesday, April 29, 2025, it is expected that all US Carriers, including those with AGS/Swissport as ground handler, will be working from the new check-in terminal. The final phase of the transition will include JetBlue and American Airlines.

That said, the airport is also looking for candidates for the position of Chief Executive Officer. Deloitte Dutch Caribbean is doing the talent search.

Hopefully, GOA will sweep in last minute, deus ex machina, to save the day. According to a March 21st announcement the Royal Schiphol Group, which has been overseeing/running the airport successfully for more than a decade,  will be leaving in June, but we hope that an heroic prime minister will zip in and restore order, whereby our Dutch partners can continue to take care of Aruba’s gateway, supported by the local team, Jurgen Benschop(COO), Barbara Brown (CRD&CO) and Aisha Anthony (CFO).

One of the burning issues is a salary cap, which will leave top executives and experts at their field, out of our financial reach, which reminds me when you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

This issue of low pay, must be resolved. We must compensate qualified people who offer their time and deliver their talent, often sacrificing their personal lives, so that we can prosper. Cheap labor is not skilled and skilled labor is not cheap.

The Holiday Inn resort welcomed a select group of guests from among its local partners for a sunset cocktail party displaying the beauty of its beach and its renovated corporate meetings space, perfectly suitable for business conferences and private events such as weddings, and celebrations.

General Manager Kevin Anderson hosted the evening with Marketing & PR Director Eva Ruiz, Wedding and Social Events Manager, Shulaika Kroos-Isenia, Sales Manager, Rene Croes, and Melissa Bermudez, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, with Executive Chef Alwin Donata hovering in the back to verify our delicious snacks were to our liking!

When I walked onto the pool deck, the familiar place looked different, the sense of space, the unobstructed views, it was all so spectacular, then Eva explained what I noticed but did not understand: That portion of the holiday Inn beach has no palapas, zero obstruction, and all lounge chairs were collected from the beach to allow the incredible panorama to serve as event backdrop, for craft cocktails, starring Canaima Gin, and social networking.

For pool deck events, said Eva, we clear the beach, and allow nature to become the main piece of décor. It was an excellent reminder that the resort’s long-standing relationship with the community is as strong as ever, and that the Holiday Inn team trusted with any function, aims to create memorable events with tropical flair.

Sometimes we forget and it is good to be reminded. Both pool deck and indoor event spaces are elegant and available, most importantly, Sulaika and Rene are there to take care of the business, supported by a super professional team of Food & Beverage specialists.

Holiday Inn has kept a steady presence on the island for almost six decades, same name, same logo, while other hotels rebranded over time, the Holiday Inn, an InterContinental resort, remained a constant on our tourism landscape.

The resort comes with 590 room, and has the most diverse offers, including all inclusive, and EP, in a considerable number of categories, in many markets, with something for everyone, maintaining a solid rating, and an enviable average daily rate, in comparison to the chain’s other regional properties.

The Holiday Inn in Aruba keeps a high return visitor rate and keeps upgrading and improving the room product and restaurants.

According to Kevin Anderson the resort is constantly striving to strengthen and deepen its relationships with guests every day, ensuring personalized unforgettable vacations.

We are currently in the process of creating packages to provide service to our partners, and we will be in contact with all of them when we are ready to accept bookings, reported Melissa, and if they couldn’t attend our event, we hope to see them soon as guests, in any of our outlets.

If any of you need more information or have any questions, please contact rene.croes@ihg.com, eva.ruiz@ihg.com or shulaika.isenia@ihg.com

I have seen the work of artist/portraitist Peter van den Heuvel before, at the Aruba Art Fair and Artisa Gallery, in San Nicolas; some of his early canvases of old Aruba streetscapes were hanging at Fly-Fit Studio charming exercisers with their pastel retro architecture.

I once popped in on one of Peter’s art classes at Artisa and discovered the former Prime Minister of Aruba among his students, painting her beloved grandson from a photograph. She self-confessed to be an enthusiastic weekend hobby painter.

You can also catch up with Peter at the Art Hub, as he sits by the window and paints, on the corner of Columbustraat, across from Checkpoint Color.

Careful, the pigeons on the roof, might drop their stinky stuff on your head.

Peter would like you to catch up with him, because he believe we all hide an artist deep in our souls and should take art lessons, to try free the trapped creative inside.

His wish is to start an island-wide art movement, with the only requirement being the spark, the non-conformist flair.

For the project Faces of Art at Cas di Cultura, Peter collaborated with digital artist/photographer Fernando Vermeer, of Checkpoint Color, and producer/videographer Glen Geerman to produce a full-length documentary accompanied by an art show.

Fernando snapped pictures of eight local artists of different disciplines, curated with the help of Vibration PR’s Maria Silva. She served as creative director for the project.  Peter then sat down with the eight chosen ones for a candid conversation about their art and their life, in front of Glen’s camera. Before, during and after, Peter also looked at the photographs and presented his interpretation of them, in the form of individual portraits.

He did not guarantee 100% likeness, he looked into the faces, and interpreted what he saw in the expression and in the eyes.

You will find the portraits, hanging in the exhibition hall of Cas Di Cultura, they are worth visiting.

For the premier, Sunday, audiences were invited to watch the 90 minute film, edited by Glen’s team first, then they walked over to the exhibition hall to admire the portraits of Kevin Gumbs, a modern kinetic-movement mentor, and dance teacher, Kyle Winklaar, a music professor/composer, Xalsky Schwengle, a chef and a culinary-arts teacher, Mitch Almary, a popular singer, performer, and media specialist, Kim Violenes, a bold, graphic, colorist-painter, Ryan Tromp, a decorated tattoo artist, Paul Wong, a muralist and spay paint artist, and Adriana Cereste, a dancer, coach, inspirational prima ballerina, as seen through Peter’s eyes

All eight contemporary-influencers got to be driven around by Peter, in Fernando’s vintage classic car, 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88, to meaningful locations where the interviews took place, all adding to the attractive visual aspects of the production.

Peter is hoping the success of Faces of Art I, will lead to installment II and III, the Island is brimming with talent he says, waiting to be revealed.

Peter’s daughter, on the team at Cas di Cultura, a cultural, social educator, was happy to help connect between art, culture, education and the community.

Thank you sponsors. They couldn’t have done it without you.

Aruba is gearing up for an unprecedented musical evening with the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Tania Kross and the virtuoso guitarist Chris Kross. More than just musical collaborators, Tania and Chris are cousins, sharing not only a deep-rooted family bond but also an extraordinary artistic connection. This exclusive event, set to take place at Cas di Cultura on April 2 and 3, 2025, promises to blend the grandeur of opera with the vibrant essence of the Caribbean, creating a unique experience for all attendees.

Internationally renowned for her powerful voice and unparalleled charisma, Tania Kross has captivated audiences worldwide with her artistic versatility. Her operatic performance in Papiamento, Katibu di Shon, was a cultural milestone, masterfully connecting history with music. Meanwhile, Chris Kross, a talented guitarist, producer, and composer, has showcased his artistry at prestigious international festivals, collaborating with music legends and leaving a lasting impression with every performance.

This special concert at Cas di Cultura will not only be a celebration of music but also an opportunity to experience an immersive performance filled with emotions and sounds that transcend borders. Additionally, the event will feature surprises and exclusive moments that will make this night truly unforgettable.

Tickets are now on sale, and demand is high. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this historic night. Get your ticket now and prepare for an unparalleled musical experience!

For more information, interviews, and press accreditations, please contact Joraine Lopez at 592-6931.

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: UNOCA, Het Cultuurfonds voor het Caribisch Gebied, Aruba Tourism Authority, Super Food, AHATA, Marriott Aruba Resort y Vibration PR. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their commitment to fostering cultural enrichment in Aruba.

Don’t miss out on this unique experience in Aruba! Join us at Cas di Cultura for two unforgettable nights of music and emotion.