The members of the Aruba Timeshare Association, ATSA, met for a lunch-meeting at La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino with representatives of most of the island’s Vacation Ownership properties, in attendance.
The Food & Beverage team of La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino prepared a varied and tasty lunch menu, served with the resort’s signature gracious service and genuine hospitality.
ATSA’s President, Luigi Heredia, Costa Linda Beach Resort, welcomed members just before officially opening the meeting. The business agenda included a presentation about the new Sustainability Fees and AWSS, Aruba’s Wastewater Sustainable Solutions, by Minister Ursell Arends, the Minister of Transport, Integrity, Nature and Elderly Care, Anthony Rojer, of UTILITIES NV and Yuri Feliciano, ED Card Enforcement & Payment.
The forum listened to a thesis presentation titled Employer Branding in Timeshare, by Camille Lievens, a student of the University of Aruba; Treasurer Jurgen van Schaijk presented the financials of 2023 for approval, followed by the approval of minutes, from the earlier, February 29th, ATSA meeting. Various other committee reports followed, one regarding TPEF, the Tourism Product Enhancement Fund, by Sulaika Kelly and the other about the Security Foundation by Rina Geerman, on behalf of Pedro Vargas. The meeting concluded with the new board president introduction and a round-table resort update.
After a short introduction by Minister Ursell Arends, Anthony Rojer, delivered a talk titled “Modernization and Digitalization of the Wastewater Network.” He introduced the new entity, AWSS, Aruba Wastewater Sustainable Solutions, and supplied information about the new law covering the semi-privatization of the wastewater treatment operation and the introduction of the new $20 tourist levy, as per July 1st, 2024.
His presentation covered the assets that will be part of the project and the solution to revamp the Bubali Wastewater Treatment plant, replacing the current aeration systems with modern and efficient ones, and installing modern systems that accelerate the purification process. Rojer presented a timetable and relevant milestones for the project, aiming at having a significant positive impact on Aruba and achieving sustainability and environmental protection goals.
Rojer’s presentation was followed by one about the ED Card Enforcement and Payment, with the help of Technology by SITA, a most reliable airport and airline communication network partner, serving the aviation industry since 1949. The ED card project qualified back in 2022, with the health credentials pilot during the pandemic, and will now be used to efficiently collect the new tourist levy, designed to pay for Aruba’s new wastewater network.
Camille Lievens, a student of the University of Aruba, who worked as an intern at ATSA, made a detailed presentation of her thesis that won her an excellent grade. Her research reached over 350 students that were asked about their perception of the timeshare industry. She then described the current situation, the potential challenges to any employer’s brand image, and did a good job explaining the psychological, economic, and functional benefits of joining the timeshare industry as an employee, as long as the industry maintains its stellar reputation and attractiveness.
The meeting went on with the Financial Report, by Jurgen van Schaijk, which was accepted and approved, and an informal Changing of the Guards ceremony where the ATSA bade farewell to its outgoing president Luigi Heredia, with a small token of appreciation, before Sulaika Kelly took over the reign of the organization.
The meeting was adjourned with a round table free-word in which all attendees reported on renovations and improvement projects at their properties.
ATSA was set up in 1994, and currently counts the active membership of the majority of vacation ownership properties in Aruba. The association works on a local level, as a supporting member of AHATA, the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, and with other local organizations as well as Government entities. On a regional level, where Aruba continues to receive recognition as a model vacation ownership destination, ATSA has professional ties with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and also benefits from continuous collaboration with ARDA, the American Resort Development Association.
Board members include Sulaika Kelly, incoming President, Jessica Franken, Secretary, Pedro Vargas, Board member, Jurgen van Schaijk, Treasurer, and Luigi Heredia, outgoing president.
