The Impact Awards introduced by the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association two years ago recognizes companies within the AHATA membership for their efforts in improving our local community in four areas: Social Investment, Employee Wellbeing Cultivation, Championing Cultural Heritage, and Environmental Conservation.
The awards were handed out on Friday at a festive gathering at the Alhambra Ballroom and went to the following companies:
La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino for “Championing Cultural Heritage.”
Aruba Marriott Complex received an honorable mention.
The Aruba Marriott Complex for “Employee Wellbeing Cultivation.”
Divi Resorts received an honorable mention.
Tropical Bottling Company for “Environmental Conservation.”
Amsterdam Manor received an Honorable Mention.
De Palm Corporation pa “Social Investment.”
Tropical Bottling Company received an honorable mention.
Of the 150 plus AHATA members, within the island’s business community, 33 handed in their award applications and a jury of independent local personalities reviewed the materials and conducted extensive interviews and verifications. They handed their findings to the AHATA President and CEO Tisa LaSorte, who reiterated that the jury selected decided the outcome free from external influences.
On the jury’s panel Daniel Tecklenborg, Director of CEDE Aruba, Rosabelle Illes, PHD in Psycology and a faculty members at Universidad di Aruba, Jan Noordzij, Director of Advance Human Resource Services, Francielle Lacle, Advisor on Sustainabile Development, and Edjean Semeleer, Cofounder of Go Cultura Foundation, a creatige economy NGO.
The award ceremony was beautifully orchestrated by the Alhambra Ballroom team, Elite Productions, and BEE4 Consultancy and Events. Artist Gilbert Senchi designed the custom-made award.
Videos and other materials will be available on AHATA’s FB
It was nice to see the growing number of applicants, and from what I understand AHATA will be actively encouraging more members to document their activities in pursuit of excellence in at least one category.
Championing Cultural Heritage: The winner, La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino is not a branded international resort it was born in Aruba, developed by an Aruban family and in the spirit of the company’s founders the resort continues to view itself as the promoter of local culture, sharing customs, and traditions with its timeshare members, highlighting local food, festivals and celebrations, music, and mostly norms and values. It’s who we are they say, it’s in our DNA.
Employee Wellbeing Cultivation: The winner The Marriott Complex, has always dedicated resources and creativity to fostering a productive, positive, and sustainable work environment. This is especially important in view of the labor crunch, and the resort’s need to remain ‘Employer of Choice.’ Employees have options, these days, and due to the limited pool of qualified hands the resort over time introduced a substantial number of programs to promote employee wellbeing. I imagine the jury was presented with a detailed document outlining the physical, mental, social, and professional strategies, designed to enhance employee wellbeing. Because of its size, its affiliations to other branded resorts on the island and its corporate culture, the Marriott provides good opportunities for career advancement and personal development to the ambitious.
Environmental Conservation: The winner, Tropical Bottling Company, goes far beyond placing solar panels on its roof. The company follows Coca Cola’s declared global goals and is working towards helping collect and recycle all bottles or cans it sells, creating 100% recyclable packages, besides using 50% recycled materials in their packaging. Tropical Bottling Company measures every aspect of its operation and aims to improve its environmental performance continuously, as far as the use of water, energy, and the company’s Carbon footprint. It’s more science based, than we think.
Social Investment: The winner, De Palm Tours. was proud to document to the jury the 75 different local projects it participated in, lending support for programs focused on school enhancement, student success, and aid for children facing physical, cognitive disabilities, or hardships. The company backed animal welfare programs including rescue, adoption, foster care, veterinary care, habitat maintenance, and spaying/neutering campaigns. They sponsored initiatives to preserve the ocean, maintain coral reefs, clean beaches, and waters, and protect marine life.
Overall our companies do a lot for our community. The engagement with the community takes many forms, but one thing is certain, the more they do, the more there is to do. With a laid back public sector, much falls on the private sector.
Pa mas informacion di e esfuersonan sostenibel di cada 33 nominacion pa AHATA Impact Award
2024, bishita ahata.com/impact-awards.
