Nina Cohen, Vice President Marketing for Miami Air, personally escorted 80 top clients of the Marriott & Renaissance Hotels to Aruba. The dignitaries were joined by 60 Marriott executives, also some spouses in total 180 very important guests; hand picked explains Mark Nooren, Managing Director of Renaissance Resort & Casino. The massive private charter airlift was a project undertaken by three women called Liz, one working for the airline, the two others for the hotels.
The idea was to give the dignitaries, all distinctive incentive planners, a close-up look of 
the recently re-branded and renovated Renaissance resort here. Nooren welcomed the visitors on behalf of his team to Aruba, at the CrystalTheater before the showing of Panorama, a 25 minute presentation showcasing the island’s history, culture and sights in a movie. He promised to deliver the comforts of home and the excitement of discovery at the Uniquely Renaissance property; he pledged to make function and delight compatible for whatever group-size the dignitaries book. At the end of film the visitors were leisurely walked across the boulevard, following a colorful brass band, into the FestivalPlaza for a WOW party. The food was outrageous, including some to-live-for calamari rings, hand rolled sushi and seared ruby red tuna. The cutest, smallest, desserts crammed the buffet, the ones which can be piled up high and devoured in just one satisfying bite. The Green 
Iguanas flowed, the palm trees swayed, the ambiance was magical as Director of Sales Carla Smits did the rounds conversing personally with the people who are destined to book business into her property. Also present the Minister of Tourism Edison Briezen, and Wichita Vilacres whose DMC team helped decorate the plaza. Eco Destination Management was also entrusted with the welcome reception at the airport. Imagine coming off the plane and being greeted with Cuban cigars, flowers, moist towelettes and ice water! It was a long weekend filled with fun, excitement and memorable experiences, Nooren reports. Saturday morning was dedicated to a Marketplace in which the Marriott executives also on board the Air Miami charter flight wooed the incentive planners with the treasures of their properties all over the US. In the evening Renaissance island beckoned visitors with twinkling light and tiki torches for an evening of tropical entertainment across the bay. Aruba, says Jorge Pesquera, President & CEO Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, is like Scarsdale Arizona, only with a 15 mile beautiful beach. Safety, security, nice people, great infrastructure, even Wi-Fi, lots of activities, a consumer-friendly business climate, culinary proficiency and the cherry on top, a tax treaty signed with the US, TIEA, which would recognize meetings and conventions held on the island as tax write-offs, a business expense.
