Entre Nous is the monthly newsletter
from the Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB), Netherlands Antilles.
In this newsletter you will find the accomplishments of TCB
in Bonaire, North America, South America and Europe as well
as the newest developments within the tourism industry.
We hope that you will read it with
pleasure and if you have something that you think is relevant
for the tourism sector to know just fax it to 717-8408 or e-mail
to: info@tourismbonaire.com.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
TCB
BONAIRE
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LOCAL
REPORT
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BONAIRE KIDS WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPTIONSHIPS,
MAY, 2005
The play ground and training ground
of the world famous Bonaire Sailing
Team will be the site for the
premier Kids World Freestyle
Championships May 20-22, 2005
Talented youth freestyle sailors
are invited to attend this event
being held the same week as the
Bonaire PWA King of the Caribbean.
The best youth sailors from the
region and around the world will
compete in the most dazzling
windsurf discipline, freestyle.
In the years to come some of
these top talents will be soon
on the PWA Tour.
With moves bearing zany names like
the Flaka and Grubby, Freestyle
is one of the hottest water sports
for youths across the globe.
Freestyle is fun and exciting
and also very affordable requiring
only one board and a few sails. Windsurf companies recognize the value of the youth
as they emerge to spurn the growth
in windsurfing.
 To accommodate
their needs, companies have
created light weight affordable
rigs to allow the kids to maximize
their skills in the wind. Competitions locally incorporate kids' clinics and
competitions.
Kids around the world dazzle
the crowds at events doing
tricks and maneuvers leaving
the spectator dizzy. Bonaireans are no
strangers to this exciting sport.
It
is fitting that Bonaire will
host the first Kids World
Freestyle Championships. A Caribbean island
once known as Divers
Paradise has
new attention. Bonaire is
known in the windsurf world
as one of the best places to
learn and perform freestyle. Bonaire will play host to this first time event.
Contact Ann Phelan at ann@bonaireworldfreestyle.com or Elvis
Martinus at theplace@telbonet.an in Bonaire or Tinho
Dornellas at Tinho@calema.com in
the US for details. Registration for this
event is done at www.bonaireworldfreestyle.com.
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HARBOURTOWN
BONAIRE JAZZ FESTIVAL, MAY
20-22, 2005
Bonaire is a small and beautiful
island, well known as “divers
paradise”, and an excellent
place for windsurfing
championships and sailing regattas.
But Bonaire is also a music island:
a variety of folkmusic combined with
reggae, salsa, and tumba. Latin and
Caribbean jazz can be found in
a number of places as well.
The Bonaire Jazz Festival 2005 is
organized for all lovers and practitioners
of that type of music. The island
will host them in 2005 and years
thereafter. The dates of the festival:
May 20, 21 and 22 ; these days coincide
with the last days of a major sport
event on Bonaire: PWA King of
the Caribbean--You can enjoy windsurfing
in the daytime and music at night.
Jazz all over the place: The
festival is organized by the Bonaire
Jazz Foundation in close cooperation
with four main locations: Plaza Resort
Bonaire, City Café,
Bongos Beach, and Kontiki Beach Apartments,
and, of course, our sponsors. The
four locations can host a number
of visitors ranging between 300 to
800 persons per day and are all positioned
at the seaside or on the beach.
Concerts and events will be held
three times a day: Happy Hour time,
main concerts and late night jazz
and jam sessions in public places
and restaurants/bars.
Only for the three main concerts
there is an entrance fee of 30 Antillean
guilders for three concerts and all
the other events are free. It is
our policy to create low threshholds
to generate a maximum of festival
visitors from the island and abroad.
Caribbean and Latin Jazz is
the main course: Contracts
and reservations have been made
for the three main concerts.
-- Denise
Jannah, a well known vocalist,
performing internationally,
born in Surinam and living in the
Netherlands, accompanied by a trio,
covering a broad repertoire of
jazz standards as well as her own
original compositions
-- The Bernabela Bislip Project
from Aruba, a six man band with
Kryoio Jazz
-- X-Hale, a group of musicians
from the Netherlands
-- Cuban Express, a groovy latin
jazz group from Curacao
--Ced Ride, a vocalist with Latin
jazz and Antillean, jazzy music
from Curacao
All above-mentioned groups and
persons have had a wide exposure
in jazzfestivals and are excellent
in their genres.
The other events and concerts will
be covered by three local Bonarian
groups and several musicians from
Curacao, Aruba, the Netherlands,
and the U.S.A, and, of course, visiting
jazz lovers with an interest to play,
to jam, or to hang around on this
lovely, unspoiled island .
Title sponsor of the festival: Harbourtown
Real Estate
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NEW
BONAIRE AMBASSADORS
AWARDED
SILVER: |
Bob & Marisa
Ten Eick, Illinois, USA |
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Two
years ago, Bob and Marisa just
received their Bronze Award,
but have now upgraded to Silver,
having attained the goal of
visiting Bonaire for sixteen
consecutive years! Since their
very first visit, they have
enjoyed the hospitality of Carib
Inn. Bob and Marisa are
divers and also enjoy windsurfing.
They tell us there is no other
place in the world which rivals
Bonaire for these sports!
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AWARDED
BRONZE: |
Don & Martha
Peck, Kentucky, USA |
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After
13 yearly visits to Bonaire,
Don & Martha received their
Bronze Ambassadors Award. Don
is a diver, while Martha snorkels,
and they love to visit Bonaire
as they enjoy the people here,
and since it is one of the
few islands in the world where
both can enjoy their respective
sports together! On this visit,
they are enjoying the hospitality
of Captain
Don's Habitat, and they
tell us they will begin planning
their fourteenth visit right
away!
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AWARDED
BRONZE: |
Howard & Ginger
Benassi, Masssachusetts,
USA |
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Howard
and Ginger received their Bronze
Medals after completing their
fourteenth year of visiting Bonaire.
Over the years, they have made
friends with various locals,
who are very content to have
them come back and visit. During
their vacations, they have stayed
at various places on the island,
and, on this visit, they are
staying at Sabal Palm, in Belnam. |
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BROAD
BONAIRE REPRESENTATION AT DUIK VAKER
 This past February 18-20, the annual
Dutch dive show DuikVaker took place in
Utrecht. TCB Europe welcomed a huge team
of representatives from Bonaire. It ensured
a lovely and relaxed atmosphere. Many visitors
at this show have already been on a dive
vacation to Bonaire and are planning a
new one. It became a meet & greet in
the booth. Since Europeans (and also
the Dutch) still tend to book via tour
operators instead of direct via airlines
and hotels, bookings were made on the
spot with Bonaire Fun Travel and ABC Travel.
Compared to last year there was a decrease
in attendance caused by the decision of
the organizers to cancel the booths of
low priced dive shops.
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PRIZE
CEREMONY AT DUIK VAKER
 The
PR-campaign based on the virtual
dive brochure came to a climax at DuikVaker.
Over 30 photographers entered the competition
and submitted their best Bonaire pictures.
Together with an accompanying story,
it was published at the virtual dive
brochure. In January and February it
was up to the Dutch divers to vote for
the best picture. Never before has TCB
Europe had so many voters! After counting
all the ballots, TCB’s Roger Davids
awarded the Bonaire Dive Vacation to
the winner. Also one of the voters
was made happy with a Bonaire holiday.
Other finalists did not go home empty
handed. Our partners Suunto and the magazine
Duiken presented them with special
gifts.
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PRESS
FLIES OVER TO BONAIRE
This month appeared to
be a press month. Various journalists
and even TV-shows came to Bonaire or
arranged their visits with TCB’s
Marieke Raaff. TCB Europe
is aiming at the dive press, as well
as the magazines read by the so called
post materialist and well-off folks.
The TV-show of Henny Huisman (first episode
last Christmas) is recorded on Bonaire
and. TCB Europe would like to thank Bous
(Plaza) and Gerard (Mangrove) for their
kind corporation.
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MOBILE
MARKETING AT VAKANTIEBEURS
TCB Europe once again
introduced a new and high tech marketing
tool: mobile marketing. Prior to Vakantiebeurs,
all members of the Dutch trade were
invited to enlist in the Bonaire-SMS.
On January 11th during the Vakantiebeurs,
TCB Europe sent a SMS to every travel
agent enlisted. Those present at the
Vakantiebeurs and showing this SMS
to Marieke Raaff were given a Bonaire
Bag. A unique and low cost mini-marketing
campaign where once again Bonaire’s
marketing by personal approach was
visible.
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FIRST
BONAIRE DIPLOMAS TO NON-DUTCH TRAVEL
TRADE
After the launch of the
Dutch internet travel trade exam, the
English version was launched for the
non-Dutch travel trade. The first week,
TCB Europe received the first entries
and over 25 diplomas were presented to
travel agents throughout Europe. As hoped
for, edutainment (educational entertainment)
via internet turned out to be a highly
effective way to inform travel agents
in all our markets on Bonaire.
PARKING
PROMOTION ONCE AGAIN SUCCESSFUL
 Surprise
me! This is one of the great sayings
in marketing. And ‘never
change a winning team’ is another.
That is the way TCB Europe at DuikVaker
combined something new (prize ceremony)
with something proven to be successful.
This year, Bonaire was once again sponsor
of the parking tickets and thus ensured
every visitor was confronted with Bonaire
even before they entered the building!
TCB
EUROPE AT BELGIAN WORKSHOP
On behalf
of TCB Europe, Rob Al attended the
travel trade workshop in Antwerp. Also
Bous (Plaza, Bonhata) joined and went
along with Rob to check this new initiative
to see with his own eyes the
potential of the Belgian market. They
concluded the potential is in the market,
but this marketing event appeared not
the right way to contact and contract
the right partners. In the second quarter,
TCB Europe will roll out a new guerilla
marketing campaign with extra effort
in this market to ensure opening it
up for Bonaire. Rob Al will fly to
the UK and Scandinavia to discuss various
matters with the KLM-staff in these
areas.
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TCB
EUROPE ABOUT TO LAUNCH A NEW SECTION
ON INFOBONAIRE AIMED AT EUROPEAN TRAVELERS
In March, TCB Europe
will launch a brand new section on
InfoBonaire to
help promote our island throughout
Europe. This addition will use new
media techniques, such as streaming video, to inspire people to visit Bonaire.
Prior to launching, TCB Europe will email various partners on Bonaire to invite
them
for a sneak preview.
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TCB
EUROPE'S PRE-ITB CAMPAIGN STARTED
Last week TCB Europe
started its pre-ITB campaign to inform
tour operators and travel agents located
in the most important countries, and
to invite them to visit our booth
at ITB. This trade show is the largest
in Europe and is very important
as many buyers will be present. This
is THE show for the Bonairean sales
and marketing representatives to contact
and contract tour operators. It is
very important that all hotels and
resorts on Bonaire make sure they have
their contract with European tour operators.
This is the only way to make sure hotel
rooms will be occupied by European
tourists. Hotels and resorts aiming
at the self-supporting European tourists
will only take a tiny, tiny slice out
of the pie called European tourism.
By not participating at ITB, it means
waiting for the next opportunity being
WTM London (November).
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BONAIRE
2004 PRINT MEDIA COVERAGE RECHES ALL TIME HIGH
OF $9.6 MILLION
With feature articles in the
top newspapers in the US including USA Today,
The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times,
The LA Times, New York Daily News and more,
Bonaire achieved a record number of 413
articles in
the North American press during 2004. The total
number of impressions from this coverage was 235,123,236. Had
the amount of space covered by the articles
been purchased as advertising, the cost would
have been $2,751,695. Due to the greater value
of the “implied third
party endorsement” carried by an editorial
placement; the total public relations value
was calculated and reported as $9,630,851.
The preceding numbers were compiled by Burrells/Luce,
an independent media audit firm, and reported
on a monthly basis to TCB. The reports and
the individual clippings are available in the
TCB Bonaire office.
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EIGHT
SHOWS IN TWO MONTHS.....THE SCUBA TOUR KEEPS
GOING
February stops at the Vancouver
Boat Show and the New Orleans Boat Show
brought the total number of Consumer Shows
where the Scuba Tour carried Bonaire’s
message to eight. In addition to the “Bonaire
1” vanity license plate bringing
attention to the destination, several of
Bonaire’s
hotels took advantage of the opportunity
for additional exposure by providing a
sweepstakes package. Participating hotels
were Captain Don’s Habitat, Divi
Flamingo, Hamlet, Plaza Resort and Windsock.
BONAIRE
LINKED TO DEMA CONSUMER SITE WWW.TIME2DIVE.COM
 As part of the Scuba Tour Sponsorship, DEMA
has provided a link from their consumer site
to www.infoBonaire.com.
When you go to the site just click on The Scuba
Tour and then click on the BONAIRE 1 license
plate.
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BONAIRE
HOTELS ON FAMILY CIRCLE MAGAZINE
WEB SITE
Each year, Family Circle, one of the
top magazine's in the US with a circulation
of nearly 5 million, publishes a special
travel section with exclusive deals
available only to
readers. Selected specials are then highlighted on the their website.
In response to our request for packages, the following hotels replied and were
selected by the magazine: Buddy Dive Resort, Captain Don's Habitat, Coco Palm
Garden & Casa Oleander, and Golden Reef Inn.
BONAIRE
EZ NEWS FOR FEBRUARY
During February two
issues of Bonaire EZ News were written and
distributed to our database of more than
25,000 consumers and travel agents. The February
14th issue focused on the Bonaire
Dive Festival and the decision that was made
to hold the next event in 2006. This issue
also let people know that June is still a
great time to visit the island and provided hotel
specials being offered during this month. The February 28th
issue of EZ News focused on the King
of the Caribbean 2005 which will be taking
place in May, as well as island news including
the Harbourtown Bonaire Jazz Festival, Bonaire
Beach and Culture Week, and the Bonaire Rotary
Club’s celebration of the first 100
years of Rotary International with concerts
by the Dutch Dixies.
DIVE NEWSWIRE
FOR FEBRUARY
In February two
press releases were distributed on Dive
Newswire. The
first distributed on February 1st
focused on hotel packages being offered this
year. The second release, posted
on February 14th, focused on the
Bonaire Dive Festival and the decision
made to hold the next event in 2006. A
listing of hotels offering special deals/packages
in June 2005 was also included in this
press release. Dive Newswire is
distributed electronically to more than
6,000 dive shop owners, manufacturers,
as well as media outlets.
PRESS RELEASES
In February two press releases were
prepared and distributed. The first
focused on the introduction of the Nature
Fee for all people using the waters around
Bonaire. This release was distributed
to the media and will be put on Dive
Newswire in March. The second release
focused on the Bonaire Dive Festival
and the decision to hold the next event
in 2006. This release was put out to
the media as well as on Dive Newswire.
PRESS VISITS
In February work began
on a one-on-one press visit by writer
Deborah Williams for
mid-April 2005. Deborah, who will
be traveling with her husband, a photographer,
and her niece will gather information
for various articles on Bonaire that
she will write for the Toronto Star (circulation
980,000), Asbury Park Press (the #3 newspaper
in NJ serving the affluent suburbs on
the New Jersey shore, with a circulation
of 240,000) and Western New York
Family Magazine (a family magazine distributed
in the Buffalo, Niagara Falls area with
a monthly circulation of 26,500). The
articles will focus on diving as well
as other activities available on island.
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BONAIRE'S
NEWS ON CTO WEB SITE
Bonaire’s
information section on www.onecaribbean.org,
the official site of the CTO, was
recently updated by Adams Unlimited. Bonaire’s
2005 Calendar of Events, Bonaire
Briefs, and Bonaire’s Fact
Sheet now appear on the site for
all members and visitors of the
CTO website to view. Current
press releases will be also
posted and removed as needed. Bonaire’s
King of the Caribbean press release
is currently posted for viewing
and will be updated as more information
becomes available.
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BONAIRE
REPRESENTED AT CTO PUBLIC RELATIONS
COUNCIL MEETING
Joining over 30
participants, including National
Tourist Officers and Public Relations
firms, Adams Unlimited attended
the February 8th PR Council Meeting
hosted by the Caribbean Tourism
Organization. A variety of topics
were discussed, including cooperative
efforts to promote the Caribbean
region, the May 31st Media Marketplace
event in New York being held during
Caribbean Week May 29-June 4, the
28th Caribbean Tourism Conference
(CTC-28) and ongoing projects with
USA Today and other top media outlets.
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Thanks to a suggestion by
Wendy Horn, articles appearing
in the editorial highlights will
now have links back to the original
publication, when available.
If a subscription is required
to view that article, this will
also be noted. Original copies
of the articles will be also
available in the monthly PR Report
at the Bonaire TCB office.
Wall
Street Journal (circulation
2,101,017): Bonaire’s
marriage requirements were
listed in the “Takeoffs & Landings” section
of The Wall Street Journal on January
14, 2005. Bonaire’s
requirements were listed along
with many other islands in the
Caribbean in an article about eloping
and getting married while stopping
in a cruise port. Paid subscription
required for online access at www.wsj.com.
New York Daily
News (circulation 802,103): As
a result of a press release
written by Adams Unlimited about
hotel specials on Bonaire, packages
for Divers Paradise Bonaire and
Casa Bonito were featured in the “Deals
of the Week” section of the New
York Daily News on Sunday,
February 6, 2005. Each
hotel package was detailed and
contact information for each property
was listed. Fee required for online
access at www.nydailynews.com.
New York Post
(circulation 642,844): Bonaire
was featured in the January
25, 2005 issue of the New
York Post, one of the
top ten newspapers in the United
States. Candyce Staphen, who
visited the island on an official
press visit last December, wrote
the story. She describes Bonaire
as a great family destination
and talks about the activities
available for both adults and
children of all ages. She highlights
a package currently being offered
by Buddy Dive Resort and the
contact information for Buddy
Dive Resort is also listed. Fee
required for online access at www.nypost.com.
Bride’s
(circulation 400,000): Bonaire
was featured in the March/April
2005 issue of Bride’s magazine
in an article about honeymooning
in the Caribbean. Bonaire was
listed as being known for its “excellent,
easy-access diving” and
adventure lovers were promised
a “sweet surprise” of
rising adrenalin by exploring
the caves that mark Bonaire’s
shores. A package and contact
information was listed for the
Plaza Resort Bonaire. Print version
not available online (www.brides.com does
not have articles posted for
reading).
Outside
Traveler (circulation 300,000): Bonaire
was featured in the Winter
2005 issue of Outside
Traveler magazine as
a pristine diving destination,
and also as a destination that
offers much more such as hiking,
kayaking, shopping, and great
food. Beautiful color photos
taken by a photographer from Outside
Traveler accompanied
the article. Several accommodations,
restaurants, and activities were
listed with TCB contact information.
Visit http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/winter-traveler-2005/top-caribbean-islands_3.html to
read the article in its entirety.
Fort
Worth Star-Telegram (circulation
228,325): Bonaire
was featured in the Sunday,
January 30, 2005 edition
of the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram.
Bonaire’s diving was discussed
during an interview of two “diving-pros” from
Texas who said they prefer Bonaire
as a diving destination beyond
any other. Color photos accompany
the article. Harbour Village
Beach Club is recommended as
a place to stay by the interviewees.
Other activities including bicycling,
kayaking and visiting Washington-Slagbaai
National Park are included in
the article as well. Fee required
for online access at www.star-telegram.com.
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2003/2004
BONAIRE TOURISM ARRIVALS
The commitment
to increase the numbers of visitors to Bonaire
is always our primary goal. Evaluating the moderate
2004 figures and with optimism, Venezuela continues
leading the region and we have noticed the
increase in the Brazilian market in relation
to 2003, a potential market in our natural segment diving where
the office has concentrated. With some improvements
in airlift, such as the regular Avianca flights
and the Tuesday Varig regular flight (both airlines
flying to Aruba from Rio and Sao Paulo), the
market will continue to improve.
These two markets have non-stop
flights by KLM, which in 2004 we launched
the image campaign of the island among all the
travel agents. An important point to highlight
is the high percentage in the statistics from
other SA countries that increased 82% in relation
with 2003, thanks to our permanent market research
via internet making it possible to bring these
markets to the island.
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HILMA
HOOKER PROMOTED BY DECO SPORT
The Brazilian online magazine
in its third edition (January/March), has an
interesting article on the Hilma Hooker, showing
it as one of the most beautiful shipwrecks
of the Caribbean. You can click the article
written by Ary at www.decostop.com.br.
Confidentially Deco Sport from
Portugal also has an article about Bonaire
together with other famous diving destinations
such as Honduras, Bali, Cabo Verde, Thailand
etc. To view it, click at www.opeixevoador.pt.
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VISA
IS REQUIRED
Beginning last January
1st, 2005, Peruvians need a visa to visit Holland.
According to the Dutch Embassy, some documents
are required with the cost of US$ 47.00.
BONAIRE
POSTERS AT
THE ECUADORIAN
TRAVEL AGENCIES
To keep the
image of Bonaire
in the mind
of the consumers
and also the
travel agent,
KLM is distributing
the posters
that TCB SA
had printed.
They also are
going to be
posted at the
main travel
agencies of
Guayaquil & Quito,
which specialize
iin the Caribbean.
A
POSITIVE
MEETING WITH
QUITO KLM
GM
We
are quite
pleased with
the good
news from Viamerica
(the strongest
Equator tour
operator),
regarding
the improved
rates to Bonaire
as promised
by Mr. Axel
Metselaar
(new KLM General
Manager)
to the Bonaire
Delegation
during the
recent promotional
visit to
Quito & Guayaquil
last November.
Back to the top
THE
COLOMBIAN
AGENDA DEL
MAR, AN ENVIRONMENTAL
PROJECT DEVOTED
TO SEA AND
NATURE
We are glad
to know that
the Colombian
divers use
this divers'
annual underwater
calendar planner
where Bonaire
has been advertising
since 1999.
The bulletin “Ultramar“ from
the Agenda
del Mar, announced
in its 54 edition
the new fee
structure of
the BNMP.
THE
JASTA TRAVEL
NON-STOP
FLIGHTS TO
BONAIRE
Little by
little, the
Venezuelan
tourism sector,
and especially
the dive operators,
are learning
more about
these flights
from Bonaire
to Caracas,
Valencia and
non stop flights
to Bonaire.
The total caacity
(19 seats)
of the plane
was booked
during the
recent Karnival
holiday.
SLOWLY
BUT SURELY
It's
great to see
the Venezuelan
divers again
on island.
Many visitors
will be expected
during the
next long weekend
(Easter Week)
on March 23rd
to the 27th.
More information
in the next
Entre Nous.
PRESS
RELEASES
MAILED
As part of
the marketing
strategies,
the office
is updating
the Bonaire
news to the
media press.
Recently informed
were the
new changes
of the fee
at the BNMP,
the next edition
of the Dive
Festival 2006,
and also that
BonairExel
has changed
its name
to BonairExpress.
Also, in the
specialized
Venezuelan
press, Bonaire
was present
in:
-- Gam Tourism
Magazine
in its February
issue highlighting
in details
the program
of the Buddy
Dive Resort
on its 25th
anniversary,
also a welcome
to Ronella
Croes as
the new TCB
GM.
-- On
February
14th, the
SportSub & SportalSub
published an
article “Buceo
en Bonaire”,
announcing
the new fees
of the Bonaire
National Marine
Park.
BONAIRE
WELL PROMOTED
DURING THE
AIR CANADA
TRADE SHOW
The island
was invited
by Escala Tourism
Wholesalers
to be present
in their booth
with other
Caribbean destinations
during the
event of the
Air Canada
Trade Show.
The event
that took place
at the Marriott
Hotel on February
25th and 26th,
and enjoyed
a high participation
of the tourism
sector from
the cities
of Caracas,
Maracay, Valencia,
Maracaibo,
along with
important top
corporate entities.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
- Rio Boat
Show – Brazil
April
29th
to May
8th,
2005,
Website: http://www.rioboatshow.com.br
- SIT trade
show - Lima
May 19th to
the 21st,
2005
- Caribbean
trade show – Caracas
May 23rd to
the 25th,
2005
For more
information
about the trade
shows, please
contact either
Bonhata or
Yasmín
at flamingorep@cantv.net |
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NEWS
FROM THE TOURISM SECTOR
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NETTECH
N.V. EXPANDS SERVICES VIA MERGER
WITH WEB DESIGN COMPANY
NetTech N.V. announced
that it has
expanded its offerings and client
base via a recent successful merger
with
Bonaire-based Caribbean Design & Marketing Consultants E.Z. (CDMC), a well
known professional web design company and Bonaire's premier web designer
for the last two years. As a result of the merger, CDMC's owner, Susan
Davis, becomes co-managing director of NetTech N.V., joining NetTech's
founder Jake Richter in operating NetTech.
"This merger will greatly benefit all of our existing and future clients,
as it means that NetTech now becomes a one-stop shop for all Internet
marketing from developing marketing strategies to implementing them via
state of the art web sites using the latest tools and server technology,"
said Jake Richter.
Among the additional services the merger now allows NetTech to offer are
low cost web site design, photography, and graphics design, provided by Ms.
Davis. Clients will also benefit from regular complimentary web site
reviews, including search engine rankings, usability, and freshness.
In the new company structure, Mr. Richter will remain in the position as
technical director, and will continue to manage servers, client domains,
and hosting among other technical responsibilities such as spam fighting
and continually improving anti-virus filtering.
To celebrate this new collaboration, NetTech is offering a 10% discount on
any new banner advertisement placed on Bonaire's Official Web Site, www.InfoBonaire.com,
between February 18th and March 31st, 2005.
NetTech N.V. is the
only company on Bonaire, and one
of few in the
Antilles, that owns, operates,
and manages its own high performance
web and
mail servers, with very high
bandwidth access and support,
and located in
the U.S., which allowed NetTech
to completely escape any problems
with
Bonaire's recent power outages.
NetTech N.V. is also Bonaire's
Official Web
site Developer and the only professional
Internet and Web specialists
on
the island. The company offers Internet consulting & training,
Web site
hosting and design, photography, graphic design, books on technology,
custom programming, and marketing consulting.
For more information, contact:
Jake Richter or Susan Davis
NetTech, N.V.
Phone 717-6773
Web: www.nettech.an, Email: info@nettech.an
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ANN
PHELAN NAMED TRAVEL CONSULTANT
FOR BONAIREPROS.COM
Ann
Phelan has been named Travel
Consultant for BonairePros.com, the online travel service of Great
Southern Island Adventures,
specializing in vacation packages
to the island of Bonaire.
A
travel agent since 1987 and
an avid windsurfer, Phelan
has operated Caribbean Wind & Sun
Vacations, providing travel
arrangements to Bonaire since
2001. She is the event promoter
for King of the Caribbbean, Bonaire’s first international sporting event for
the Professional Windsurfing
Association. Now Bonaire based,
Ann will continue offering
travel consulting and customer
support, specializing in windsurfing
vacations, villa rentals, family
vacations and eco-adventure
travel to Bonaire.
“We
are very excited to have Ann
join our team--she
brings experience and a passion
to assist customers with their
individual needs”, quotes
Andrew Reppeto, owner of Great
Southern and BonairePros.com. “With Ann being based on Bonaire,
we can offer the customer an
insider’s perspective
and provide assistance to groups
and individuals on Bonaire.”
For
more information, visit the
company’s website at www.BonairePros.com, or email at info@bonairepros.com
BonairePros.com and Great
Southern Island Adventures 800-748-8733,
817-416-2580, fax 817-416-3607
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STINAPA’S
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
At
a recent STINAPA board meeting,
two new members were chosen bringing
the total count to 9 out of a
possible 11. Evo
Cicilllia was named the board’s
president and Ronella Croes will
fill the position of secretary. Other
board members are Papi Cicillia,
Cornine Gerharts, Bruce Bowker,
Jack Chalk, Jeanette Nolan, Herbert
Piar and Diana St. Jago. Presently,
the board is still looking for
a member to represent the farmers
and fisherman. The management team and Employees
of STIBAPA wish the board success
in continuing its job of managing
the protected areas of Bonaire.
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WANNADIVE
BONAIRE HAS GOT A BOAT
 Year after year Bonaire
has been rated as the best shore
dive destination
in
the world. Therefore Wannadive Bonaire has always specialized in
providing
service that allowed their guests to take advantage of that unique
natural
feature. With three convenient pick up/drop off points for tanks
on
the
island, Wannadive Bonaire has achieved a level of service that is second
to none. Still, the thirty
or so divesites, accessible
only by boat have
eluded
them so far. Enter our new boat--the almost 29' "privateer renegade" has
a
sleek hull, a shady cabin, a sturdy ladder, a powerful 200 HP engine,
and
provides comfortable and fast rides out to those dive sites
including
all
of Klein Bonaire, for up to twelve divers. Of course, the boat is
equipped
with all safety gear, including oxygen kit, navigation lights, and
communication equipment.
Packages start from $234 including all taxes, for 6 days of unlimited
air
and six one tank boatdives.
For addittional information and bookings please contact us at info@wannadivebonaire.com or contact
one of our agents from our website:
www.wannadivebonaire.com
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