Aruba Getting Ready For Business without Boundaries, SITE IC 2009

dsc02325The officials of SITE, the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives spent excellent few days on the island meeting with their chief event planners, and especially the host committee co-chairs: Ed Malone, Jerusha Rasmijn and Gina Lopez.

Aruba will be hosting the Site International Conference from October 30th to November 2nd, with SITE members from around the globe coming here to conduct business, network and exchange information.

Heather Nash, Director of Events & Industry Relations for SITE, Freddy Muller, 2009 International Conference Chair, and Aruba’s own Wichita Villacres, who was appointed by SITE International as the co-chair of the IC 2009, brainstormed with local hospitality officials completing the list of committees, entrusted with the organization of the event designed to showcase Aruba to hundreds of delegates, in the fall.

With Myrna Jansen, ATA, and Rob Smith, AHATA as honorary members, the conference will become a model for public and private sector collaboration. As the two largest sponsors Myrna & Rob will help develop the meeting’s program.

Then Ed, Jerusha and Gina, who are Aruba’s top conference planners, will take the program and run. They will be supported by nine different committees in charge of a variety of issues from finance to branding, optional activities, accommodations and transportation, handled by hospitality professionals such as Pat Donovan, Mylene Marques, Magali Meza, Mario Arends, Ayerim Maduro, Michel van Leeuwen, Sanju Luidens, Sjeidy Feliciano, Angelo Tromp, Patrick Melchiors and Peggy Croes.

While the SITE time was well used in meetings, it was also peppered with fun, as seen in our pictures. The international dignitaries Heather, Freddy and Wichita sampled some of Aruba’s famed hospitality and enjoyed time on the water and in the sun.

Wichita reports that one of the goals of the conference is to link Aruba’s strong meeting and conventions market to SITE, as an organization, and explore the possibility of starting a new Caribbean chapter here, even before the conference in October.

SITE has selected Aruba as the host country for the 2009 International Conference, which will bring together the top minds in incentive travel, a multi-billion dollar global industry. The 2009 International Conference will be held at the two official host hotels, the Westin Aruba Resort and the Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa.

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February 08, 2009
Rona Coster