Wichita Villacres enjoyed the distinct honor of collecting a plaque on behalf of the island of Aruba. The recognition handed out by SITE Florida & Caribbean chapter was awarded to the island for the excellent support given to the Site Florida & Caribbean chapter, in the past three year. The presentation took place December 9th in Miami, at Turnberry Isle.
The island of Aruba did an excellent job sponsoring the entertainment during Site’s Crystal Award lunch in Rotterdam, during the Site Global Conference in November 2014, with native musician Michael Lampe, and his Datapanik band, brought in especially from Aruba to entertain delegates. Datapanik is made up of young Aruban musicians who showcase Aruba’s cultural-musical heritage with a modern and authentic twist. On a recent official visit to the island of Aruba the Dutch royal couple King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands enjoyed an especially staged, under the stars concert of Datapanik at Bushiribana, the island’s historical Gold Mine ruins. The program played by the band at the Crystal Award lunch included an opening and closing set, which were both well received by conference attendees, who loved the sound and danced to these old/new tunes right through lunch. A talented, young dance group performed together with Datapanik, lead by a local talent based in the Netherlands, Aneudi Cabral. Aneudi prepared the choreography and special costumes for this festive occasion, enjoyed by all.
The Aruba delegation to the Site Global Conference included Jerusha Rasmijn, Darysse Croes, Elston Peterson, ATA, Wichita Villacres, ECO DMS, Kelsey Gernert, ECO DMS and Maoreen Every, ECO DMS.
SITE’s Crystal Awards Recognition Program started in 1980. It provides industry acclaim for world-class organizations that excel in the design of unique, memorable experiences that deliver measurable benefits for their clients through the use of unique group travel experiences. Today, the SITE Crystal Award serves as a benchmark for programs and is regarded as the highest honor in the motivational events and incentive travel industry.
According to Jerusha Rasmijn, ACB Conferences & Events Manager, participation in the SITE Global Conference 2014 in Rotterdam made a valuable connection between motivational experiences and business results, possible. Because SITE serves as the source of expertise, knowledge and professional connections, the delegates’ exposure to Aruban culture and music will surely result in increased interest in the island and the future, desired, return on investment.
Aruba enjoys a long term relationship with the SITE conference, having sponsored various other SITE events before with an eye on the Incentive Travel Market via close collaboration with the association for Incentive Travel Professionals. The island also hosted a stand during coffee breaks where delegates had an opportunity to acquire more information about the island as a MICE destination. Additionally, Aruba is sponsoring an Aruban student, majoring in Event Organization, allowing him to attend the SITE global conference. Attendance of the conference will give the student additional knowledge of the industry and a memorable personal experience, required to sustain his professional growth.
SITE, is first of all a network of incentive and meeting professionals. Site members are part of an international community, benefitting from great networking which facilitates the challenge of finding business opportunities, exchanging information and knowledge with other business partners. SITE is an important partner of the Aruba tourism industry wishing to claim its share in the MICE, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions industry.
Wichita Villacres, President, ECO Destination Management Services of Aruba & Curaçao, is the President of the 2014 SITE Florida and Caribbean chapter 2014.
