Celebrating 25 successful years

Paradise Beach Villas opened in 1988, as a timeshare resort developed by a group of fast-thinking locals. I wish I had a better memory, so I could tell you EXACTLY what happened there, but who cares, the end result was almost tragic, they sold multiple units successfully, turned visitors into owners, and then it imploded and owners stood to lose their investment in Aruba in an ugly bankruptcy.

Then one person stood up and said No Por.

Lee di Giovanni.

How she did it, I am not sure, but the proof is in the pudding, Villa Bougainvillea Development NV bailed the failing Paradise Beach Villas timeshare out, and order was restored.

That was 25 years ago. They reopened on July 4th, 1994, and Villa Bougainville Development, remained under the matriarchal, low-tech leadership of Lee di Giovanni, until she passed away, handing her life’s work to Freddy Albertus, who for the past 18 years managed the property with practical commonsense, and a group of loyal, long-term employees.

On July 1st, the resort hosted a cocktail party commemorating the anniversary. It was nicely attended by guests, owners, and dignitaries. The party checked into the resort’s lobby, because of the earlier drizzle, over cocktails, on Monday.

Emcee Bianca v/d Biezen greeted guests warmly and invited managing director Albertus to address the festive gathering. Then the CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority Ronella Tjin Asjoe Croes spoke about her experience of meeting long-time visitors, emotionally invested in the island. The ATSA president, Aruba Timeshare Association, Luigi Heredia, who manages Costa Linda Beach Resort, and Andy Osborne who shares the management throne with Albertus, added their two cents. It was a congenial gathering, and speakers took time to acknowledge the loyalty and immense contributions, of timeshare visitors to the island. The also credited the famous Aruban Zjeito, though they did not call it by name, for the warm and friendly bond between staffers and guests.    

Worth mentioning that as Albertus was speaking, he also thanked his concessionaires, Asi Es Mi Peru and La Terrazza Italiana for adding an exciting Food & Beverage aspect to his resort.

Paradise Beach Villas’ success, Albertus shared, continues to grow thanks to the commitment of stakeholders, and as the second smallest timeshare resort in Aruba, he was proud of the property’s upgraded status to a Select Resort with Interval International. Paradise Beach Villas became the second resort on the island to receive the service-oriented Aruba Certification plaque, last year.

Albertus was also pleased to report that the average number of working-years among resort staffers was eighteen and that many of the renovations projects at the resort were executed without any bank loans, attesting to the financial health of the operation, resulting in a top rating among resorts on Eagle Beach.

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July 05, 2019
Rona Coster