Travel Agent - March 17, 2008 - (Page 47)

Agent Insider accommodating) between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. This level is a non-smoking floor. For families, the three-bedroom Orquidea Suites are unbeatable. Clients will enjoy a comfortable deluxe living room area—as large as three guest rooms and furnished with a conference table for eight—as well as a long balcony for viewing the stunning sunsets, a master king bedroom, and two queen bedrooms with French balconies. The head concierge at the hotel is Arianne Brkovic-van Esta Tjallingii (011-297-586 1234, ext.4595 or avanesta@hyatt.com), a Member les Clefs d’Or. Contact her to arrange any special requests for your clients prior to their arrival. atmosphere: guests on the torch-lit patio are surrounded by a peaceful lagoon, where black swans and Koi swim peacefully, and bubbling fountains and a cascading waterfall create serene background noise. A rustic wall built from indigenous Calichi limestone, resembling a historic stone fort, also borders the patio. Clients ought to have dinner there at least once but should also sample the restaurant’s lavish Sunday brunch (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), which is popular with locals and during which we were overwhelmed with the selection that included breakfast classics, carving stations, amazing desserts and unlimited champagne and mimosas. Note: Clients can also enjoy gourmet Asian entrees at Café Japengo; yummy Northern Italian fare at the more casual Café Piccolo (try the Frutti di Mare Alla Piccolo) or fresh and flavorful South American food and an incredible drink menu at the lively Palms Restaurant, where they’ll be treated to Latin dancers and live music. Celebratory dining hardly ends there. Arrange a gourmet group brunch right on the beach underneath a palapa, where the resort’s talented Head Chef Miguel Garcia can prepare melt-in-your-mouth pancakes and omelettes made to order (and he’ll also keep clients entertained with his friendly and sparkling demeanor). Recommend an outdoor morning meal like this after a client’s big night out or for their last day of vacation—it’s unlike any meal we’ve ever CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 Celebrate in Style The Hyatt Regency Aruba is endlessly equipped to make any celebration special for its guests. Thoughtful staff members, led by General Manager Scott Allen (297-523-4510; sallen@ hyatt.com), can arrange activities and meals that start with a chauffeured limo ride and end with your client’s favorite dessert and afterdinner drink, and it’s those tiny details that will take your guests’ experience up several notches. For a special celebratory meal, guests have numerous options. Reserve a table on the outdoor patio at the hotel’s signature Ruinas del Mar (Spanish for “Ruins by the Sea”). It offers imaginative twists on traditional Spanishinfluenced cuisine and has a dramatic Hyatt Regency Aruba’s Alfresco bar Kate C. Ficke, manager of The Travel Gallery, Inc. in Chicago, says that pitching Aruba should be simple—as easy as “ABC, O(h) 123.” What does she mean? “The explanation is simple,” says Ficke. “Aruba has something for everyone. A is for aloe, extensively cultivated in Aruba and explained in detail in a fascinating museum; and for the Alto Vista Chapel, with a view that goes on forever. B is for butterﬂies—32 different species of them from around the world in one place at the easily accessible butterﬂy farm. C is for casinos, where you can see if Lady Luck is on your side; Cas de Torto adobe home, one of only three still in existence on the island, and for the cuisine: more than 100 ﬁne-dining restaurants and numerous fast-food outlets,” she says. As someone who’s visited the islands several times, Ficke praises a handful of favorites within these dining choices. “For romance, try Madame Janette, which features an international menu. For great seafood, try Aqua Grill. Ventana’s Del Mar is great, especially for its atmosphere: located at Tierra del Sol, it has incredible views of the sea and golf course. And ﬁnally, La Trattoria has excellent Italian and is right next to the must-visit California Lighthouse at the tip of the island,” she adds. Hyatt Regency Aruba guest room March 17, 2008 TravelAgent | 47

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - March 17, 2008

Travel Agent - March 17, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Contributors Africa: Lodges that will Make your African Safari through Tanzania Unforgettable Special Supplement: Honeymoon Specialist Africa News and Briefs Caribbean: The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino is a Perfect Choice for all Types of Clientele Hawaii: The Less-Visited Island of Molokai Provides a taste of Old-Time Hawaii Central and South America: Where to Enjoy the Reefs, Rainforest and Ruins in Belize’s Maya Country Hotels: Properties that Cater to the Growing Trend of “Girlfriend Getaways” Cruises: Increasingly, Cruisers are Choosing Outside Companies for their Off-Ship Excursions Barbados: A Caribbean Travelers' Dream Airline Update: Several European Airlines Offer New Nonstop Service Ski/Snowboard: Three New Hotels Hit the Slopes in Wyoming, Utah and British Columbia Multi-Generational Travel: Cavallo Point: the Lodge at Golden Gate is a New “Green” Hotel Outside of San Francisco Agent Profile: Lynda Turley of Alpine Travel of Saratoga in Saratoga, CA Agency Profile: Largay Travel’s Company Retreat Cover Story: Barbados Technology: Open Travel CRM Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Onsite from Jordan Travel Mart Harrah’s Draws Younger Clients to Atlantic City Cruise News India’s New Hotels and Nonstop Flights Saluting Travel Industry Contributors Report from Travel South In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - March 17, 2008

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