The Malmberg family is mourning the loss of its patriarch, Harold D. Malmberg, who was 90 years old, when he died.
I talked to some of his former employees, at De Palm Tours, and they all agree Aruba lost an icon, a principled man, a straight-shooter, who was doggedly dedicated to his work, a man who never gave up, an old-fashioned dignified businessman, a father-figure to his employees and the ultimate survivor, of any and all obstacles fate put in his way.
Harold who hails from an immigrant family from Surinam, bought a rinky-dinky transport company from Wichi De Palm, the original founder of De Palm Tour. The company was founded in 1960, but Harold and his then partner Ramon Richardson, took the few buses over in 1971.
Over time Ramon retired, and Harold forged ahead on his own, later asking his children Lisette and Ricky to go into the business that by then included a mother company, De Palm Corporation Inc., operating De Palm Tours Watersport, De Palm Island, De Palm Financial Services and Western Union, De Palm Car Rental and more.
How did he do it? My interviewees agree, by not giving up.
The company grew alongside the Aruba’s tourism industry, it developed steadily over 62 years, to offer luxury motor coaches, water sports facilities, boats, land excursions and an island off the island.
Former employees say that Harold had to rely on family members and friends to support his plans, since the banks were nowhere to be found, at the beginning of his trajectory.
But he was determined and through thick and thin never ditched de Palm Island, for example, through very lean years, he persevered, until it caught on, and is today a very successful tourist attraction.
A former employee told me he often supported immigrants from his own country of origin, and regularly paved growth avenues for them, ways for them to join the workforce, and prosper.
We had umpteen challenges with bus parts, says another de Palm ‘graduate’, but Harold had a singular can-do attitude, and he wouldn’t accept NO for an answer, he just made the impossible possible by staying focused and stubborn.
Adding: He used to talk to the bus cleaners and security people to solicit their observations, and the solutions they devised to their challenges, the way they saw things.
He made us work, says another, but we were proud of what we were doing, and he started talking about environmental practices in the 80s and considered himself an environmental guardian, long before it became the norm.
As a family-owned business, De Palm Tours served the family, but also took care of its people, and rewarded loyalty, says another.
At the time when relationship marketing was all the marketing one needed, Harold crisscrossed the world visiting airlines and travel agents, charming them to support Aruba. In these efforts he joined the hoteliers, and the local members of the hotel association, because he realized that if they do well, de Palm Tours will benefit.
I dedicated a chapter of my book Island Life, to Harold Malmberg. I interviewed him in 1993. I said at the time that he looked like famous actor Omar Sharif only minus the Hollywood grin. I also said that when he speaks, it is with the authority of a Swiss banker, poised and serene.
Take a page out of Harold’s book: Listen to all your employees, nurture a can-do atmosphere in the workplace, insist on honest business dealings, praise and reward strong work ethics, promote the destination first and your business will prosper.
One of my interviewees assured me that from now on the transfer department in heaven will be run expertly.
Heartfelt condolences to Maude, Lisette, Ricky Giovanni, and the third and fourth generation, Thalia, Samantha, Ricardo, Thiago, Joey, Jamiro, Joydem and Mia.
