FIRST ANNUAL GALA AWARDS DINNER

The Gala Awards Dinner for the first annual International Culinary Student Competition, hosted by Aruba, took place at the Seaport Conference Center on Saturday, January 18, 2003. It was attended by several hundred people, including school directors, teachers, coaches, students and their family and friends.

Distinguished guests of the evening were Governor of Bonaire Mr. Hart, Prime Minister of Aruba Mr. Oduber, and Minister of Education Mr. Refunjol, who all participated in the program and the awards ceremony. Raoul Henriquez, President of the Aruba Gastronomic Association, also addressed the audience and the students.

As the teams came on-stage and accepted their certificates and medals, they were greeted by enthusiastic and well-deserved applause.

An abundant and varied Caribbean island-hopping buffet was presented in the elegantly-decorated ballroom by Sara Matera, Catering Director of the Seaport Conference Center, and her capable staff. Fern Pochettino, Director of the Aruba Gastronomic Association, was the emcee for the evening.

The Aruba International Culinary Student Competition is an initiative of the Aruban schools for vocational education and of representatives of the Aruban tourism sector. The idea had first been raised in January 2002 when the Bonaire Hotel School invited the school directors and teachers of Aruba and Curacao to their own student culinary competition, and the decision was made to expand upon the project and develop the concept of an ABC island student culinary competition. In August 2002, the vocational schools of Aruba - EPB Oranjestad, EPB San Nicolas, and EPI Sector Hotelero - embarked on this cooperative project.

The purpose of the competition is to develop in the students a sense of professionalism, quality creativity and pride; to establish a mentoring program with the professional chefs of the islands; to bond together the culinary schools of the ABC islands; to foster a spirit of teamwork and friendship among all the participants.

Allan Kuster, Director of EPB San Nicolas, headed the Organizing Committee which consisted of:

Stanley Brown (Multi-Media International)
Anthony Croes (Deloitte and Touche)
Marielle Croes (Stichting EPB)
Sjeidy Feliciano (Aruba Tourism Authority)
Tommy Dirksz (EPB San Nicolas)
Chef Kelly (EPI)
Maria Kuiperi (EPB Hato)
Marcel over de Vest (EPB San Nicolas)
Sara Matera (Seaport Conference Center)
Fern Pochettino (Aruba Gastronomic Association)

The actual competition took place on Friday, January 17, at the state-of-the-art kitchens of the EPB Oranjestad School at Hato. There were seven participating teams: EPB San Nicolas Aruba; FEFFIK Curacao; EPI Aruba; two teams from Bonaire; two teams from EPB Oranjestad.

All team members performed impressively, showcasing their developing talents, and received a certificate of participation which will qualify them for future international competitions.

Each team had to prepare a three-course meal for six persons in three hours. Each dish was evaluated by the tasting judges for flavor as well as visual appeal. As the dishes were being prepared, the students were also judged on their practical skills by the kitchen floor judges.

The competition closely followed internationally recognized guidelines of professional culinary competitions based on the standard rules of the Caribbean Culinary Federation (CCF) which provides education and training for bartenders, waiters, chefs and all in the HORECA sector, and organizes the annual Taste of the Caribbean, a competition among 21 teams of professional chefs from various Caribbean islands. CCF sent their best wishes and congratulations to all the competing teams.

The lead judge at the Aruba International Culinary Student Competition was Klaus Friedenreich, Chairman of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Culinary Department. The winning EPI Aruba team won a one-week visit to his school with meals, providing a very valuable learning opportunity for the students. Mr. Friedenreich is an American Culinary Federation Certified Master Chef from Germany who has been affiliated with the Caribbean Culinary Federation (CCF) for many years and has served as a judge at the Taste of the Caribbean on several occasions.

Other distinguished judges in this competition were Hayo Vink from Curacao, an experienced chef and hospitality consultant, trainer, and teacher of culinary arts; Anthony Anthony, Executive Sous-Chef at Plaza Resort in Bonaire and member of the previous silver award-winning professional team of Bonaire; Ronald van Hasenbroek, Food Director of Divi and Tamarijn Resorts and member of Aruba's previous gold award-winning professional team; Henny Kolenbrander, owner of "Dutch and Delicious" export company in Florida and Certified Master Chef who had his own catering business in Curacao and was selected by CCF to be on their team of judges.

The Organizing Committee wishes to thank a long list of Aruba sponsors for their generosity and support of the competition, food festival, and awards dinner, among them:

AHATA
Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort
Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Casino
Divi Aruba Beach Resort
Holiday Inn Aruba
The Mill Resort
La Cabana All-Suite Resort
Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort

Restaurants of the Aruba Gastronomic Association, including Amazonia, Captain's Table/E Piscado of La Cabana, Chez Mathilde, Drifwood, Gasparito, Iguana Joe's, La dolce Vita, La Trattoria El Faro Blanco, Le Dome, Pirate's Nest, Rumba, Salt & Pepper, Twinkletones, Ventanas del Mar, Waterfront Crabhouse.

De Palm Tours

KLM

Purveyors of food and wine: Madame Janette, Ling and Sons, Swint Trading, Aruba Trading, Prosalco, Consales, Licores Aruba, Virgillio Fruteria, Martijn Trading

It is not winning, but learning and growing that matters most, and this competition is the first step these young chefs take on the road to a successful and rewarding career. Congratulations to all of them for their efforts and achievements!

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NEW BONAIRE AMBASSADORS!

Louise and Hau Kwaan are from Illinois, USA, and started coming to Bonaire back in 1985. Since then, they have been coming here and staying at Carib Inn ever since.

They love the diving and since Bonaire has a great reputation for diving that is why they keep coming back, but it is not only that; friendly people, good shore dive sites and additional bonus: a great windsurfing site!!!

On January 21, 2003 at the Plaza Hotel, Frans and Hansje Hazewinkel from Haren, The Netherlands, received their Bronze Bonaire Ambassador Medal from the Bonaire Tourism Corporation for 15 consecutive years they have been coming to Bonaire and never missing once!.

Back in 1988 they decided it was about time to visit all the Dutch Caribbean Islands. Bonaire was "love at first sight" and they love the tranquility, the clear ocean, the beautiful fish, the nice Bonairean people with their friendliness, and not to forget all the wild animals that roam free around the island.

Frans and Hansje are both very enthusiastic snorkelers and they said "there is no better place to do this than here on Bonaire." They also donated funds for the Klein Bonaire foundation.

"We are very proud to receive these medals and we are looking forward to our 16th next year so we can upgrade our Bronze to Silver and who knows, we will "go for the Gold in about 5 years."

Gretchen Kromer & Paul Kuznets
Indiana, USA: "Though we have been diving in the Florida Keys, Belize, Honduras, Little Cayman, San Salvador (Bahamas), Anguilla, Provo, and Grand Turk, Bonaire is the one place we have returned each year for the past ten years. We come back for the excellent diving, the island's pleasant ambience, and its fine restaurants. We also return because the Carib Inn... with its outstanding dive service... has become, for us, a home away from home."

Barbara & John Rushman
New Jersey, USA, 19 years of visiting Bonaire

Marisa & Bob Ten Eick
Illinois, USA, 14 years of visiting Bonaire

Catherine Skwiot
Massachusetts, USA, 11 years of visiting Bonaire

Doug & Jeri Reineger
Florida, USA, 12 years of visiting Bonaire

Laurence Gross
Massachusetts, USA, 21 years of visiting Bonaire

Sue Southwood
Indiana, USA, 12 years of visiting Bonaire

Mr. Albert De Soet, 30 years of visiting Bonaire

Gold Medal Bonaire Ambassador, Albert, started coming to Bonaire when he was 16 and ever since he has been back every year and sometimes more than twice a year.

He is one of the founders of the Bonaire Turtle Club and is still very active in this foundation.

To see more of Bonaire's Bronze, Silver, or Gold Ambassadors, visit http://www.bonaireambassador.com !

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TCB-NEW YORK REPORT

New Romance Brochure

To coincide with Valentine's Day TCB will be sending out the third of four self-mailer brochures to its database. The Romance Brochure, which focuses on the romantic opportunities in Bonaire as well as provides general information on the Island, will be sent out to more than 14,000 people.

In addition the online version of the Romance Brochure, the Romance E-Brochure, will be sent out to our email database of approximately 16,000 people in a special edition of Bonaire EZ News on February 7th. The e-brochure will be uploaded shortly and once it is, it can be viewed at http://www.InfoBonaire.com/BonaireRomanceBrochure/. In the coming months the remaining brochure - Family - will be mailed and emailed out.

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Public Relations Audit Report for 2002

LUCE, an independent clipping and auditing service has released their annual PR report for Bonaire for 2002. In 2002 Bonaire received 332 editorial placements in print and online publications, with a total circulation of 57,057,902 and PR value of $6,095,399. In addition in 2002 Bonaire was featured on four 1/2 hour television segments worth more than $500,000. The shows appeared on the cable TV network The Outdoor Life Network.

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Dive Training (circulation 90,000)
The February issue of Dive Training contained two placements for Bonaire. The first announced the 2003 Dive Festival and included packge information. The second focused on the Bonaire Ambassador program and its website.

SkyWritings
The January/February issue of Air Jamaica's inflight magazine SkyWritings contained a feature article on diving in Bonaire. The two page article included four photos and general information on diving as well as information on Dee Scarr.

Travel Agent (circulation 51,916)
The January 20, 2002 issue of Travel Agent contained a special Caribbean & Bahamas section focused on diving. We worked with dive editor James Ruggia to set up an interview with Elsmarie Beukenboom, who at the time she was interviewed was the Director of Tourism. She along with Tim Webb and Richard Mitsoda, representatives from two of Bonaire's top tour operators Caradonna Caribbean Tours and Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas, respectively, are quoted extensively in the two page article. Additionally Betsy Braconi from Plaza Resort Bonaire was quoted.

Bonaire was also featured in another article in this section. A profile of the island's diving was the focus and Bonaire's website and 800 number were included.

Caribbean Travel Planner
The Winter 2002/2003 Caribbean Travel Planner which is put together by the Caribbean Hotel Association featured much information on Bonaire. Information on Bonaire was included in the "Welcome to the Caribbean" article, and the "A Few of Our Favorite Things" article (for kayaking and diving for beginners and activities for kids). Additionally a full page of information on Bonaire was featured and included two photos and basic information for planning a vacation.

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TCB-SOUTH AMERICA REPORT

Greetings from Venezuela and the other South American markets! We start a new year with many goals and expectations in a sensitive sector as tourism is, having new presidents beginning their political terms in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and now Venezuela facing important political conflicts.

Within the limitation of the budget, Internet has been a great help in the daily contact with our traditional markets in maintaining the distribution of information to consumers that contact us via mail, our marketing search looking for new opportunities of business to Bonaire, the communication with dive and tour operators in the different markets searching with them for better air rates and flight conditions that permit us to bring Bonaire closer to their markets.

We are proud of having a pristine destination such as Bonaire with premier diving, outdoor adventures and a peaceful atmosphere, along with good air connections and attractive hotel packages. This permits us to attract the segment of frequent travelers to Bonaire from the Latin-American markets.

Thanks for all your support in 2002 and for the support in the future.
Warm regards,

Yasmin

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VENEZUELA

Calm, peace, adventure ... The image of Bonaire

This year Bonaire will highlight its strength as a top dive destination full of peace, exclusivity, nature, outdoor adventures and total relaxation, ideal for those who live in the stress of the big cities.

On the right you will find the first artwork of the year, to be published in the February edition of the trade magazines Gam & Gaceta Aérea, which invites the travelers to escape for a weekend to a paradise island to find peace, tranquility, adventure and a laid back lifestyle.

Special promotion "Plan Venezuela Amiga"

We asked the hotels to create special 2 night/3 days package stays (according to their availability), to be promoted by the Venezuelan operators under the name "Plan Venezuela Amiga". Thanks to the properties that have already sent them.

2003 Holiday Seasons (Puentes)

Carnival Feb 28th to March 04th
Easter Week April 16th to 20th
Labor Day May 01st to the 04th
Battler of Carabobo June 21st to 24th
Simon Bolivar’s Day July 24th to 27th
Summer Vacation Aug to Sep
Christmas Season Dec 24

These dates are important to know, because according with the availability of the properties, the hotels along with the operators can promote attractive packages in each market.

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COLOMBIA

Visa is required ..

From February 1st , Colombians need a visa to visit the islands of Bonaire and Curacao. According to the Dutch Embassy some added documents are required with the cost of the service at 25 euros.

Upcoming trade show

A new edition of the fair La Vitrina de Anato, will be held in Bogotá on Feb 24th to the 26th , 2003. For more information www.anato.com.co

2003 Holiday Seasons (Puentes)

Carnival March 21st to 24th
Easter Week April 17th to the 20th
Labor Day May 01st to 04th
Holiday ... May 31st to Jun 02nd
Holiday Aug 07th to the 10th
Christmas Season Dec 24th

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BRAZIL

Looking for better air connections ..

Conscious of this potential market where Bonaire is well known among travel agencies and divers, we have been working on the possibility to connect the Brazilian market though Lima with the KLM flights to Bonaire.

2003 Holiday Seasons (Puentes)

Carnival Feb 28th to March 05th
Easter Week April 18th to 20th
Labor Day May 01st to 04th
Corpus Christi June 19th to 22nd
Christmas Season Dec 24th

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ECUADOR

2003 Holiday Seasons (Puentes)

Carnival Feb 28th to March 04th
Easter Week April 18th to 20th
Labor Day May 01st to 04th
Guayaquil Independence Day Oct 09th to 12th
Cuenca Independence Day Oct 31st to Nov 03rd
Christmas Season Dec 24th

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NEWS FROM THE TOURISM SECTOR