Forty years is a long time in the life of a hotel, but at Casa del Mar Beach Resort, it represents so much more than a birthday. It is the story of a resort that grew alongside Aruba’s tourism industry and became a home away from home for generations of loyal vacation owners.

Casa del Mar celebrated its 40th anniversary in October 2026, marking four decades since opening its doors on October 4, 1986, as the island’s second timeshare resort. The anniversary brought together members, guests, employees and people who helped shape the resort’s history. Former general managers also reunited to share memories of their years at the property.

Developed by Sun Development under the vision of Raymond Maduro, Casa del Mar was among the pioneers of vacation ownership in Aruba, when timeshare was still a relatively new concept. The idea was simple but powerful: give families the opportunity to return to their favorite island, to the same accommodation, year after year.

Today, Casa del Mar has 147 suites, and its history is reflected in the loyalty of owners who have been returning for almost the entire four decades. Some have passed their ownership on to their children, creating family traditions that continue into a new generation.

The anniversary also recognized the employees whose dedication has helped keep the resort in excellent condition and maintain its welcoming atmosphere over the years. Ronella Croes, ATA CEO enjoyed doing the honors. 

As Aruba’s tourism industry continues to evolve, Casa del Mar’s 40-year milestone is a reminder that successful hospitality is about more than buildings and beautiful beachfront locations. It is about relationships, memories and the people who make guests want to return.

Congratulations to Casa del Mar and everyone who has been part of its remarkable journey. Here’s to the next chapter of making Aruba memories!

The Government of Aruba announced that the official voluntary registration process for Short-Term Vacation Rentals will open on November 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon.

The voluntary registration platform will become available at this website: https://vacationrentalregistry.com/registration/

This voluntary registration is part of an action plan to identify, assess, and regulate short-term tourist accommodations in Aruba. All existing Short-Term Vacation Rental owners and operators can register their accommodations during the registration period, which will open on November 1, 2026, and close on January 31, 2027.

The registration process is voluntary and will last three months. The Government strongly encourages all existing Short-Term Vacation Rental owners and operators to take advantage of this opportunity to have their properties and/or operations registered and evaluated as part of the regulatory process.

The goal of this initiative is to create greater clarity and certainty for the sector, while respecting existing rights and evaluating opportunities for legalization where this is responsible and legally possible. At the same time, registration will allow the Government to obtain a more complete and up-to-date overview of the sector so that it can regulate it responsibly and sustainably in relation to the market and develop appropriate policies.

Voluntary Registration

Participation in the registration process is voluntary. This means that owners and operators are not required to register and will not be fined simply for choosing not to participate in the registration process.

A mandatory registration system based on legislation is currently being prepared and will be submitted to the Council of Advice (Raad van Advies) in the near future.

Nevertheless, the Government emphasizes the importance of registering during the established registration period in order to be considered for inclusion under the temporary tolerance framework (“tijdelijke gedoogkader”) and to have the accommodation evaluated and considered.

Registration makes it possible to identify and assess each accommodation individually, taking into account its current situation, existing rights, and applicable regulations. For those operating a Short-Term Vacation Rental, registration is an important step toward obtaining clarity regarding their status and future possibilities.

If You Register, Your Property May Fall Under the Temporary Tolerance Framework (Tijdelijke Gedoogkader)

Accommodations that qualify (those that were operational before November 1, 2026) and are registered will fall under a temporary tolerance framework (tijdelijk gedoogkader). This framework will remain in effect during the evaluation and regulatory process.

This means that while the Task Force evaluates the registrations and determines the necessary next steps, existing accommodations covered by this framework may continue their current operations, subject to the applicable conditions.

The temporary framework provides a transition period during which the Government can carefully evaluate each situation without the registration process itself interrupting existing business activities.

It is important to emphasize that registration does not mean automatic legalization, approval of a permit, or the right to expand an accommodation. Each case will be evaluated individually to determine which rights currently exist and what additional steps may be necessary. This will also depend on amendments to the ROPV (Spatial Development Plan and Regulations).

Who Can Register?

The registration process is primarily intended for accommodations that were already operating as Short-Term Vacation Rentals before November 1, 2026, including those that already hold some type of permit.

Additionally, projects that were not yet operational before this date but can demonstrate that concrete steps had already been taken and significant financial or contractual commitments had been made may be considered for evaluation under a transitional arrangement.

This may include, among other things, financing agreements, construction contracts, relevant permits, or proof of investments made before the reference date. An idea or intention alone is not sufficient to qualify.

The Task Force will evaluate the information and documentation submitted to determine whether the accommodation or project qualifies, whether it can be legalized, and which process applies.

I received a presentation. It was an update from Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions N.V. (AWSS) on the improvements being made to Aruba’s wastewater treatment system. The presentation was quite technical, but here is the main message.

Wastewater is something ordinarily we do not think about. But in Aruba it is everyone’s business.

We use water every day, flush our toilets, take showers, wash dishes, and run businesses — and then the wastewater disappears down the drain. In most countries residents do not really know where their dish water goes, but in Aruba we do. We drive by the Bubali bird sanctuary and the AWSS plant every day.

There is currently an important program underway to improve the island’s wastewater treatment system and make it more dependable, environmentally responsible, and ready for the future. Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions N.V. (AWSS) has been working on the island’s three wastewater treatment plants: Bubali, Parkietenbos and Zeewijk.

The program involves repairing old infrastructure, increasing treatment capacity, improving environmental monitoring, and preparing for the possibility of reusing more treated water.

In the past year, Aruba went from problems to progress, and according to AWSS, a lot of intensive work has been done.

One of the clearest improvements has been at the Parkietenbos plant, which went from being out of operation to operating at roughly 90% of its capacity. The island’s incinerator has also undergone a major expansion, increasing installed capacity from about 500 kilograms per hour to 3,300 kilograms per hour.

At Bubali, extensive repairs have been conducted on tanks, structural supports, piping, and filtration equipment. A clarifier that had been out of service is being completely rebuilt rather than simply patched up. These repairs may not be visible to the average resident or visitor, but they are essential to keeping the system functioning properly.

Because we are all watching the environment more closely, another important change is environmental monitoring. Ten continuous air-quality monitors and an on-site weather station have been installed at Bubali.

The information is logged around the clock on a live dashboard. This means that odor complaints can now be investigated using actual data — including when an odor occurred, where it originated, how strong it was and how long it lasted. That is a significant move away from opinions and assumptions toward measurable information.

Additionally more wastewater is being turned into a resource. Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the program is the focus on reclaimed water. Treated wastewater does not necessarily have to be considered waste. It can potentially become a useful resource for golf courses, landscaping, agriculture, and wetland restoration.

Bubali already supplies treated water to the Bubali Plas wetland, the bird sanctuary, and the Tierra del Sol golf-course irrigation. New infrastructure at Zeewijk is intended to make treated water more consistently available. For an island like Aruba, where water production requires energy, every cubic meter of properly treated water that can be reused represents an opportunity to reduce the need for producing additional desalinated water.

At AWSS everyone has a role in improving wastewater treatment. It is not only the responsibility of the treatment plants. Businesses can help by effectively managing fats, oils, and grease, and connecting new construction to the sewer system where it is available. Properties may also prepare for periods of high occupancy, by collecting rainwater for irrigation, for example, and use certified wastewater collection operators. This is a particularly important last comment. A certified wastewater collection operator will not dump the load in the wilderness but see to it that it is safely delivered for treatment at one of the plants.

The AWSS message is straightforward: a modern wastewater system needs cooperation from everyone.

As we speak, the work is still ongoing, and there are significant investments ahead. But the direction is clear: repair what is broken, modernize the system, improve environmental monitoring and, wherever possible, turn treated wastewater from something that must be disposed of into a resource that Aruba can use. For an island dependent on its environment, tourism and limited natural resources, which is not simply an infrastructure project. It is an investment in Aruba’s future.

Three successful island resorts are celebrating milestone anniversaries this month. Cas del Mar Beach Resort, 40 years, Costa Linda Beach Resort, 35 years and La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino, 35 years.

Casa del Mar Celebrates 40 Years of Aruba Memories

Forty years is a long time in the life of a hotel, but at Casa del Mar Beach Resort, it represents so much more than a birthday. It is the story of a resort that grew alongside Aruba’s tourism industry and became a home away from home for generations of loyal vacation owners.

Casa del Mar celebrated its 40th anniversary in October 2026, marking four decades since opening its doors on October 4, 1986, as the island’s second timeshare resort. The anniversary brought together members, guests, employees and people who helped shape the resort’s history. Former general managers also reunited to share memories of their years at the property.

Developed by Sun Development under the vision of Raymond Maduro, Casa del Mar was among the pioneers of vacation ownership in Aruba, when timeshare was still a relatively new concept. The idea was simple but powerful: give families the opportunity to return to their favorite island, to the same accommodation, year after year.

Today, Casa del Mar has 147 suites, and its history is reflected in the loyalty of owners who have been returning for almost the entire four decades. Some have passed their ownership on to their children, creating family traditions that continue into a new generation.

The anniversary also recognized the employees whose dedication has helped keep the resort in excellent condition and maintain its welcoming atmosphere over the years.

As Aruba’s tourism industry continues to evolve, Casa del Mar’s 40-year milestone is a reminder that successful hospitality is about more than buildings and beautiful beachfront locations. It is about relationships, memories and the people who make guests want to return.

Congratulations to Casa del Mar and everyone who has been part of its remarkable journey. Here’s to the next chapter of making Aruba memories!

La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino Celebrates 35 Years in Aruba

For 35 years, La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino has been an important part of Aruba’s hospitality story, welcoming generations of vacationers to the island’s beautiful Eagle Beach. What began as a visionary development has grown into a much-loved vacation destination, built on the promise of memorable holidays, warm hospitality, and the feeling of being part of a family.

La Cabana opened its doors in 1991, bringing a new dimension to Aruba’s growing vacation ownership industry. With its spacious accommodations, resort amenities, swimming pools, restaurants, and easy access to one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches, it created a place where families could return year after year and build lasting memories.

Yet the true success of La Cabana is not measured in rooms or facilities alone. It is reflected in the loyalty of its owners, the dedication of its long-serving employees, and the many personal relationships developed over decades. For countless guests, returning to La Cabana has become an annual tradition, a home away from home in Aruba.

As the resort celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2026, it also looks ahead. Continued investment and improvements reflect a commitment to keeping the property welcoming, comfortable, and relevant for future generations.

Thirty-five years is a significant milestone, but La Cabana’s greatest achievement may be the community it has built around the simple pleasure of returning to a place where people feel they belong.

Costa Linda Beach Resort: 35 Years of Aruba Memories

This November, Costa Linda Beach Resort is approaching a special milestone: 35 years since welcoming its first guest on November 1, 1991. Located at Punta Brabo, at the beginning of Eagle Beach, Costa Linda has become a familiar and much-loved part of Aruba’s vacation ownership story.

The resort was developed by Raymond Maduro, one of the pioneers who helped introduce and establish timeshare in Aruba. At the time, luxury vacation ownership was still a relatively new concept on the island. The idea of owning a place in the Caribbean to return to year after year would eventually become an important part of Aruba’s tourism industry.

Today, Costa Linda’s five-story resort features 155 units, including spacious two- and three-bedroom suites and luxury Frangipani suites. Its beachfront location, with beautiful ocean views and more than 700 feet of beach, remains one of its greatest attractions.

But a resort’s legacy is about more than its location and facilities. It is about the people who make it special. Costa Linda has long recognized the dedication of employees who have spent decades caring for owners and guests, some since the resort’s earliest days.

Its ownership structure is also distinctive: the resort is owned and governed by a cooperative association made up of its timeshare owners.

As Costa Linda approaches its 35th anniversary, it celebrates not simply the passing of time, but the enduring appeal of returning to a familiar place, reconnecting with friends and family, and making new memories on One Happy Island.

Here’s to 35 years of hospitality, loyalty, and generations of vacation owners who keep coming back.

Last-minute request for support to help Active Mirror represent Aruba at the 8MM Festival in Berlin, November 9-16, marking the band’s first performances in Europe.

Active Mirror is a local Aruban band that has worked tirelessly over the past four years to reach international audiences. In March 2026, they became the first Aruban band to perform at New York City’s New Colossus Festival, which featured over 200 bands from 23 countries. Only 12 bands were selected to perform at Berlin’s 8MM Festival, including Active Mirror, who will once again make history as the first Aruban band to perform at the festival.

Berlin marks their introduction to the European market, with an invite to perform in front of international major festival programmers, established booking agents, and seasoned industry professionals who could open significant doors for Active Mirror.

Our trip was fully funded until a sponsor unexpectedly withdrew due to a change in circumstances, leaving us with a USD $2,000 shortfall.

With our November 9 departure approaching, we’re now too close to secure replacement funding through traditional arts grants.

We’re hoping you might consider helping us bridge this gap, whether through a contribution or by connecting us/sharing our story with someone who may be able to assist.

We’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone, and we’d hate to see this opportunity jeopardized by an unexpected funding setback.

Thank you so much for considering helping us on this new leg of our journey!

Take good care,

Amal

—

Amal Farhat

263 766 5405

Manager, Active Mirror | badtime | Johnny Turbo | Telekill

Secret Agent Man Music

Aruba | Canada