about 10 hours ago
TOTT management just told us that on Friday, August 9th, 2025, the hotel will temporarily close to undergo renovation in preparation for a transformation. It will become a Voco – an IHG Hotel. Voco, such as in Voh-koh, emphasis on first syllable, and the c is pronounced like a k. VOCO is a brand by
TOTT management just told us that on Friday, August 9th, 2025, the hotel will temporarily close to undergo renovation in preparation for a transformation. It will become a Voco – an IHG Hotel.
Voco, such as in Voh-koh, emphasis on first syllable, and the c is pronounced like a k.
VOCO is a brand by IHG Hotels and Resorts, a family member of Intercontinental, Holiday Inn and Iberostar.
Voco, means ‘to invite’ and ‘call together’ in Latin – representing the thoughtful, unstuffy and charming nature of the decor, embracing the local feel of the destination. Voco is popular in China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, besides many major destinations around the globe.
Expect a reimagined Talk of the Town, a fresh, stylish, and welcoming property, to open in December 2025.
Which prompted me to look back.
It first opened as The Strand Hotel, in 1943, by Chaiben Neme, a Lebanese businessman, who cleverly thought that catering to Lago refinery executives would make good sense. He built his hotel outside the city limits of Oranjestad, almost across the Dakota airport, he knew Lago executive would see it and become excellent clients, especially in the aftermath of WWII, and the rebuild, which made the refinery such an important global player.
The hotel featured seven rooms plus a pool, bar, restaurant, and was a social hub for social organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis. The place stood out, there was nothing like that on the island.
In 1949 the hotel expanded to 19 rooms and by 1952 it was renamed Coral Strand Hotel.
Check out this webpage for pictures: monumentenfondsaruba.org
The hotel had the honor of hosting Dutch royals. First Princess Juliana, heir presumptive to the Dutch throne, accompanied by Prince Bernhard, in 1955, then Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus in 1966, after their honeymoon in Mexico.
Located on L.G. Smith boulevard, the property holds historical significance as a hospitality pioneer and the island’s first non-beachfront hotel.
Mid-50s Chaiben Neme and his son Maurice, understood the future lies in Palm Beach and oceanfront hotels, and they went on to construct the first tourist accommodations on that magnificent stretch of sand, the Basi Ruti, which opened in 1957, just two years before the opening of the Aruba Caribbean in 1959, today, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Beach Resort & Casino. Basi Ruti was eventually demolished to make way for Playa Linda Beach Resort, in 1981.
In 1964 A Dutch-born American businessman, who already spent some time in Aruba before, as a painting contractor, brought his new bride to Aruba. That was Ike Cohen. Greta his new wife at once felt very deeply about the island and its people. Together they bought the Coral Strand hotel, a nothing-to-talk-about hotel property, rebranded it as Talk of the Town, and worked very hard to reposition the renamed hotel and raise Grete’s two girls, as a family.
The Talk of The Town became indeed the talk of the town, a thriving resort offering excellent food and caring service, besides comfortable accommodations. Ike & Grete’s pet property joined the Aruba Caribbean Hotel, the Basi Ruti and the just opened Cactus Inn to jumpstart Aruba’s tourism trade.
Since there was no hotel school on the island, Ike took it upon himself to train his people, consequently many island hospitality greats, started their career at TOTT, and moved on to bigger projects.
Besides hospitality, Ike also got into airline catering, cooking meals for passengers, in the Talk of the Town kitchen first, later at the Surfside, what became Calloway Catering. In those days, food was hand carried up aircraft stairs.
I have great memories from the Talk of the Town restaurant serving good quality food in the days when quality food was not readily available. From day one, the place set the tone for what was to come in terms of international cuisine, fancy cocktails, exciting menus, elegant set-up, crisp linens, sophisticated ambiance, smart dress code, and top entertainment. At the time, Oranjestad boasted very few restaurants, perhaps a handful Chinese kitchens, and the Bali Floating barge.
To maximize profits, TOTT restaurant turned into a disco after dinner service. Scorpio’s Disco was born there, before moving to Surfside.
Some vintage menu highlights, I remember.
Beuf Bourguignon, Duck a L ’Orange, Tournedos Rossini, Sole Meuniere, Chateaubriand for two with sauce Bearnaise, Entrecote a la Bordelaise, Steak au Poivre, Snapper Veronique, Lobster Au Gratin, with haricots verts and pommes dauphinois, and for dessert Crepes Suzette, prepared flamed tableside.
Those were the days, we were not afraid of butter, cream and flour.
Over the years, TOTT expanded to 69 rooms, a charming boutique property keeping its vintage feel. It has been run by GH Hoteles since 2015, under the name Talk of the Town Hotel & Beach Club Aruba. It was majorly renovated when the company took over. GH Hoteles is based in Venezuela where it operates several properties. We wish them success with the hotel renovation and repositioning!
1 day ago
Po‑Ké Ono is a popular Japanese‑Hawaiian fusion spot in Aruba, founded by Chef Urvin Croes (winner of Iron Chef Aruba). With two convenient locations — one at Azure Beach Residences (Eagle Beach) and the other in Renaissance Marketplace (downtown Oranjestad) — it’s a go‑to for vibrant poke bowls, baos, and sushi in a casual atmosphere
Po‑Ké Ono is a popular Japanese‑Hawaiian fusion spot in Aruba, founded by Chef Urvin Croes (winner of Iron Chef Aruba). With two convenient locations — one at Azure Beach Residences (Eagle Beach) and the other in Renaissance Marketplace (downtown Oranjestad) — it’s a go‑to for vibrant poke bowls, baos, and sushi in a casual atmosphere
The restaurant now offers an Asian Pacific Tour at both Po-Ké Ono Aruba locations:
Enjoy weekday Dollar-to-Florin specials on four featured dishes each day, highlighting a different dishes:
Monday: Chinese – Hoisin Pork Bao, Shanghai Lumpia, Gyoza, Salt & Pepper Pork Bowl
Tuesday: Filipino – Adobo Chicken Wings, Halo Halo, Kinilaw, Beef Mami
Wednesday: Korean – Cheesy Tteokbokki, KFC Bao, Mango Bingsu, Bo Ssam
Thursday: Japanese – Beef Tataki, Chicken Karaage, Acevichado Roll, Tempura Banana
Friday: Hawaiian – Salmon Tostada, Tuna Poké, Miso Salmon Poké, Poké Cake
1 day ago
We’re excited to share a major milestone in the evolution of one of the island’s most iconic hotels. Talk of the Town Hotel has officially begun renovations as part of our transformation into Voco Surfside Aruba, a proud member of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family. This exciting new chapter blends the charm and spirit
1 day ago
I registered a product at Intellectual Property, late last year, and last week I was asked to pick up my certificate. I went to the old place on Adriaan Lacle, found it closed, no forwarding address, but managed to inform myself the bureau moved to the old Interbank building in town. I parked next to
I registered a product at Intellectual Property, late last year, and last week I was asked to pick up my certificate.
I went to the old place on Adriaan Lacle, found it closed, no forwarding address, but managed to inform myself the bureau moved to the old Interbank building in town.
I parked next to EduCampus and walked.
The main street is beautiful, the mature trees are magnificent, and they seem to all get water. But the store fronts are either shuttered or badly neglected.
Maggy’s still there. DUFRY’s still there. Pastechi House, still there.
The girls at Intellectual Property told me the Minister of Economy and Finance moved his own departments to the main street and I noticed the Rent Committee and a few other offices in the same building. Parking is problematic, the girls explained, but I found parking easily, at a five-minute walking distance.
That was a good move, moving business back into town.
But the ball of development, is in the private sector’s court.
On my way I walked past Anna Catharina, a fantastic project across EduCampus. The property looks like a bride on her wedding night and will be tenanted soon by a restaurant and a café. The building embodies the ‘renace’ spirit, where the past is honored and incorporated into the present. Developer Antonio Caralps has a vision for Oranjestad. He would like to see young professionals, and empty-nesters, two demographics that could be happy in city apartments, come back to live in Oranjestad. He promotes the ’15-minute city concept,’ an urban planning strategy in which most daily necessities and services such as work, shopping, education, health care, and leisure can be easily reached by a 15-minute walk or bike ride from any part of the city. Oranjestad, he says, will offer a life of great convenience to residents.
Plans for Oranjestad have been made by many people.
Column from 2016 see what changed
Another column from 2016
According to Antonio there are numerous projects in the pipeline. The Music box will become a seven-story residential building. I hope they incorporate the old tree in the design. The old Adidas building was sold, Plaza Margarita is about to become a food and entertainment hub, the two La Linda buildings will be reborn. Besides many projects on Wilhelminastraat, by a group of local investors and developers.
Susanita La Bella introduced Ambiance, last year, a three-story beauty with magnificent city views. The building is located on the other side of the Central Boutique Hotel parking lot, behind the former Mango. Incidentally, budget Central Boutique Hotel was recently refurbished, after a lengthy period of disrepair. It is now a 2-star hotel, offering room service, a 24-hour front desk, airconditioned rooms with private bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi.
I totally agree with Antonio’s strategy. To attract people to the heart of town, and revive Oranjestad, people must be living there. The street cannot offer shopping alone. Retail is no longer a big draw. Oranjestad must be residential and commercial, with a mixed-use urban core. Where living spaces, workplaces, shopping, dining, and entertainment are within walkable distance.
The residential portion should include luxury, affordable and rental housing options to allow great diversity of residents. And mostly go back to the way things were, businesses on the ground floor and residents above.
Do not forget good sidewalks and bike lanes.
The streetcar?
At that time, 2013, when I asked, why streetcar, why not some trolley, I was told: The streetcar line, which is the first in the Caribbean, is a permanent feature; buses can break down and go away, with the investment lost forever. Additionally, while putting the infrastructure in for the tram, all other government departments chimed in with upgrades to telecommunications and power lines, enabling all improvements to be part of a large, easily accessible underground tube, with the streetcar line running above. It was a historical opportunity to do it all in one shot. During the six-year construction period, they dug up the street a number of times, each time for a different cable.
FYI: The streetcar line, designed by San Francisco-based company TIG/Modern Street Railways, was operated using green technology, powered by battery, and charged by wind and solar energy. I hope this is still the case.
2 days ago
Michael Lampe is our Ambassador of Culture https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/michael-lampe-is-our-ambassador-of-culture/ The Next Minister of Energy, plus…. https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/the-next-minister-of-energy-plus/ Short term vacation rental accommodations increased 71%, not the hotels https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/short-term-vacation-rental-accommodations-increased-71-not-the-hotels/ A new minister is sworn in https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/a-new-minister-is-sworn-in/ VDA on Guard https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/30449-2/ Real Estate in the Neighborhood, an initiative of ID Realty Group Aruba https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/real-estate-in-the-neighborhood-an-initiative-of-id-realty-group-aruba/
Michael Lampe is our Ambassador of Culture
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/michael-lampe-is-our-ambassador-of-culture/
The Next Minister of Energy, plus….
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/the-next-minister-of-energy-plus/
Short term vacation rental accommodations increased 71%, not the hotels
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/short-term-vacation-rental-accommodations-increased-71-not-the-hotels/
A new minister is sworn in
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/a-new-minister-is-sworn-in/
VDA on Guard
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/30449-2/
Real Estate in the Neighborhood, an initiative of ID Realty Group Aruba
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/real-estate-in-the-neighborhood-an-initiative-of-id-realty-group-aruba/