After being high-jacked by politics the island’s awards of excellence in the hospitality sector are coming back home where they belong, to AHATA.
I have to give credit here to the early days when Wichita Villacres and her crew at ECO Destination Management orchestrated the original ARTOUSA Awards at the Americana Hotel, delivering recognition, a scholarship program and a good time at the industry galas. She set the bar high.
https://batibleki.wheninaruba.com/aruba-tourism-updates/all/the-shoco-award-of-excellence-goes-to-wichita-villacres-of-eco-destination-management-company/
For a few years in the 90s, we then survived high-brow awards by the Quality Foundation, an AVP initiative. It was a whole big to-do, peppered with words like vision and strategy, and Joyce Bartels Daal did her best to mold us to her liking. I remember a few winners taking monumental trophies home AND cash prizes.
Then we had nothing, with the change of government, until AHATA revived the award program, under the Shoco name.
As expected, around the Millennium, the Ministry of Tourism annexed the program, taking control of the process, delivering annual ministerial photo opportunities, and so-so events.
Somehow when he got off the political stage the program died, a natural lack-of-interest death.
Until the day before yesterday.
I heard this week from Vanessa that the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association announced a new AHATA awards program aptly called AHATA’s Excellence Awards with the goal of recognizing outstanding performers working in the tourism industry, for AHATA’s member hotels and resorts, for ATSA’s member timeshare properties, and for AHATA’s allied members.
This will be the inaugural year for the awards, and nominations are currently solicited in five categories. Moreover, the new AHATA awards program will also include a scholarship program for outstanding students preparing themselves for work in the industry.
Eligible candidates will be vetted by the University of Aruba and EPI Horeca.
AHATA’s Excellence Awards Categories:
Ø Employee of the Year
Ø Supervisor of the Year
Ø Manager of the Year
Ø Young Tourism Professional of the Year
Ø Lifetime Achievement award
Scholarship Program:
Ø Student of the Year
(University of Aruba, Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism)
Ø Student of the Year
(EPI – Unit Horeca)
You are hereby encouraged to nominate your team members who exemplify outstanding service, in support of our Tourism Industry. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, September 1st, 2017. The awards will be presented at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino on Friday, December 1st, 2017. More details about the ceremony TBA.
Forms with more information, and eligibility requirements may be obtained by writing to: [email protected]
AWARD TIMELINE:
Applications opens…………………………………………………………………………….July 21, 2017
Deadline to present applications (3 copies each) to AHATA office……September 1, 2017
Judges first meeting ……………………………………………………………………..September 26, 2017
Applicants interview with Judges……………………………………………………….October 9th-20th, 2017
Final Consensus Meeting………………..………………………………………………….October 23rd, 2017
Awards Ceremony…………………………………………………………………………..December 1st, 2017
