Radisson Aruba Resort Casino and Spa celebrates its 50th anniversary

The evening’s program recreated the island’s journey, sailing into the past to cruise along decades of dedication, hard work and achievements of those who believed in the force of the island’s hospitality and the richness of its history, culture and perfect beaches. The “All Aboard” invitations filled the Grand Caribbean Ballroom with tourism pioneers and visionaries, members of the media and economic pillars of the community for a special event of tribute, commemoration and gratitude.

First to take off, the official opening of a photo exhibition documenting what started in 1935 with KLM’s snip aircraft landing at the Dakota terminal bringing in visitors, through the arrival of the Grace Line cruise ship in 1957, which became the first of many ships to drop anchor in the Oranjestad harbor. What started as a promise of a bright future turned into a solid industry and the exposition curated by Checkpoint Color with over 500 restored photographs tells the island’s living history over the past 5 decades – it will be open to the public in the lower lobby of the resort through Aug 3rd.

The exposition was inaugurated by the island’s interim governor Ella Yarzagaray, the Minister of Tourism & Transportation Edison Briesen and the Director of the Aruba Tourism Authority Myrna Jansen-Feliciano. All guests viewed the photographs as well as the posters of past national ad campaigns with great appreciation, before congregating theater-style for an informative History of Tourism presentation by Mario Arends reviewing the highlights of the past five decades.

The evening third’s part included a brief welcome by the Minister of Tourism and an excellent address by the Director of the Aruba Tourism Authority focusing on the evolution of the Aruba tourist product.

At the heart of the evening were 16 recognitions given to key personalities, individuals whose vision and creativity quantum-leaped Aruba from a sleepy island in the mid 50s, to a well-defined international vacation brand.