Oranjestad. – The Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association celebrated a historical landmark Friday night, namely its 40th anniversary.
As part of the festivities, Tourism Pioneers on the island were given special recognition. Among those rewarded with a standing ovation during the gala party at the Seaport Convention Center Wichi de Palm who founded the island’s first transfer and bus company, Eileen Bartels Daal and Adwina Arends, both dedicated marketing dynamos and helpful mentors to a young generation of hoteliers, 
Adwina still very active with AHATA’s marketing division, Harold Malmberg Chairman of the Board at De Palm Tours, attorney Wally Wiggins the original developer of Divi Resorts, Ike Cohen the proprietor of the Manchebo Beach Resort, Rory Arends, servicing the local tourism industry in both the public and the private sector for many years and Ewald Biemans, developer Bucuti Beach Resort & Tara Suites, also the AHATA treasurer for a number of decades. A number of pioneers who were invited were unable to attend, for example Michael Kuiperi, Lorenzo Arends and Oscar Henriquez.
The evening took off with an entertaining video starring the AHATA President and CEO Jorge Pesquera, who personally went around inviting the pioneers to join in the joyous celebration. The video, produced by ECA was very well received.
Pesquera and AHATA marketing guru Scott Wiggins, then shortly outlined the many contributions made by Aruba’s tourism pioneers, before the room erupted in applause.
