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Minister
Pechtold Honors Bonaire Marine Park
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November 16, 2005 was a very special day
for Evo Cicilia and Elsmarie Beukenboom
representing the Bonaire Marine Park. They
were invited by WWF Netherlands and TCB
Europe and honored by Minister Pechtold
of the Dutch Government. He came to the
Antillenhuis in The Hague to express his
warm feelings for the good work on Bonaire
naming it an example for the rest of the
world. WWF and TCB managed to give Bonaire
a very prominent place in the new CITO
CD-rom and Web site. CITO is Holland’s
leading institute in education; they direct
education in Dutch schools. So from now
on we are sure every child in the Netherlands
will start to learn about Bonaire and its
wonderful work on wildlife and nature protection.
Elsmarie and Evo were given the first CD-rom
by Minister Pechtold in the presence of
Mr. Ramonsito Booi, Mr. Burney el Hage,
Mr. Paul Comenencia, Mr. Niek van Heijst
(WWF) and TCB’s Robert Bolhuis. This
event generated quite a lot of positive
press coverage in the Netherlands!
Back to the top
TCB
Europe Goes Europe (II)
 Q4 and Q1 are, by far,
the most important quarters in European
marketing. During the winter months,
tour operators are signing contracts
with properties and (new) destinations.
And also consumers (divers!) are planning
for their next holiday. TCB Europe is
happy to see we can still manage growth
from the European countries. Not only
from the Netherlands, but also the secondary
markets tend to grow making our portfolio
marketing strategy work out. Last month
TCB’s Rob
Al attended Dive Birmingham and, of course,
Europe’s second largest trade show,
WTM London. During this show we could
welcome a lot of old friends, our airline
partners, and, of course, new relations.
Various members of Bonaire’s private
sector joined TCB’s Rob Al making
it for the first time in history for
a rather crowded booth. Time to expand!
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Ads
Rolling Out over Europe
Thanks to the Usona budget
no secondary market is safe anymore… TCB’s
ads roll out over Europe hitting almost
every important dive magazine. Not only
in the UK and Germany, but also in Scandinavia.
This ad campaign will be an integrated
one where internet marketing is
also involved--not only banners, but
also Google-advertising is part of this
campaign. Various press trips make the
market approach complete. The highlight
of the campaign will be December and
January.
New
Theme-Site on Diving
Last September our business
partners,
duiken.tv, went to Bonaire to shoot brand
new dive videos. After editing and programming,
TCB Europe could launch a brand new theme-site
fully dedicated to diving. After having
launched a kite-site, our main target
group divers can now see for themselves
the beauty of Bonaire’s underwater
world. The Dutch surf to www.visitbonaire.tv/duiken while
non-Dutch divers watch the English version
at www.visitbonaire.tv/dive.
Of course, this theme-site is accessible
via the regular site visitbonaire.tv.
These new theme sites are introduced
to the dive markets via email-marketing,
press coverage, and personal presentation
at shows. TCB Europe thanks Budget and
Captain Don’s for their kind cooporation.
(view pdf)
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Post-mailing
Supports Viral Campaign
 In the second and last
month of the Dutch viral marketing
campaign at www.panoramikarace.nl,
we welcomed a lot of new entries. Thanks
to a post-mailing aimed at Dutch arrivals
in 2004, we are able to integrate the
arrival database based on the immigration
cards in our marketing plans; only
a few arrivals filled in their email
address. By sending them a postcard
and asking them to surf to panoramikarace.nl,
they gave us their email address and
thereby enabled us to send our next
mailing via low budget e-mail. A good
example of how old school marketing
techniques support new school marketing.
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TCB
Europe at Opening ABC Travel The
Hague
 ABC Travel, one of
our major suppliers out of the Netherlands,
opened a brand new office in The
Hague. Next to ABC HQ in Oldenzaal
and ABC Germany, Rudy Kloppenborg
(director of ABC Travel) managed
to open a new location at the Herengracht.
Managing director of ABC The Hague
is Emile Vergeer, who we all know
from his previous job at Maduro Travel.
Emile was the one to win the first
Golden Flamingo in the Netherlands
so no doubt he is a good and enthusiastic
supporter of Bonaire. The opening
on November 18th was attended by
a lot of representatives of the Antilles,
the Caribbean and, of course, Bonaire.
On behalf of the private sector Bous
Scholts, Ruud van Baal, and Monique
van Bergen Henegouwen were present.
TCB’s Lidewij
Staal presented the unique Bonaire
watches to Rudy Kloppenborg and Emilie
Vergeer, while TCB’s regional
director, Robert Bolhuis, made
a toast on behalf of Bonaire and
everybody present at the opening.
We wish ABC Travel all the best in
The Hague.
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New
Marketing Tool UK-Marketing
In addition to the
Web page with German specials, TCB
Europe also launched the UK-version
last month. See for yourself
at www.infobonaire.com/ukspecials.html how
Regaldive is the first UK tour
operator to enter with a special
offer for a Bonaire-trip. At WTM
Ron Al asked other tour operators
to join us and no doubt they
will! By launching this tool
TCB Europe is telling its
resellers once again how
important they are in terms
of growth in arrivals. As
we all know ,European travelers
tend to book at least their
first few vacations via a
tour operator. So we have
to do anything we can to
help them in marketing. (view
pdf)
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Press,
Press and Press
 Last month, TCB Europe
worked out a lot of press requests.
Being far more active on the secondary
markets, we can combine ad placements
with press trips. Next to that we
managed to interest leading Dutch
journalists to come to Bonaire to
write a piece. In the Netherlands
TCB was present at several press
meetings such as the press meeting
of Antor, the federation of Holland-based
NTO’s) (see image). Rob Al
also visited the press in Antwerp,
Belgium.
Back to the top
Marieke
Raaff Away for a Few Months
On November 25th, TCB
Europe’s
PR-manager, Marieke Raaff, left for
a few months to give birth to her
first child (due mid-January). While
away, her work will be covered by
Lidewij Staal (marketing and shows)
and Marieke Klosters (PR/press).
TCB Europe’s email address
remains the same at Europe@tourismbonaire.com.
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Bonaire
to be DEMA Scuba Tour Gold Sponsor in 2006
Bonaire has secured
the position as the sole Gold Destination
Sponsor of the popular DEMA Scuba Tour.
Bonaire will be recognized as such in all
press materials, and the Bonaire
logo will be on all signage, backdrops
and banners, as well as on the tent
itself. Additionally, Bonaire will
have the right to put a representative
in the sign up area of the booth, to talk
about Bonaire with those who are trying
Scuba for the first time at the pool.
Bonaire information will be included
in a “goodie bags” distributed
to participants and Bonaire will receive
the names and addresses of all participants
who try scuba. In 2005, the Scuba Tour
went to 26 dive and adventure shows and
garnered over two million dollars in
broadcast publicity and nearly one million
dollars in print publicity.
New
Bonaire Dive CD Still Tops the “Most
Requested” List
The requests are still coming
in for copies of the new Dive CD as previewed
at the Adventure Travel Symposium
Luncheon, the day before the DEMA
Show started. Dive Shops and instructors
are asking for multiple copies to distribute
to potential groups and to use in their
certification classes as an example
of the many wonderful places students
can travel once they become certified
divers.
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Final
Continental Reservations Seminar Held
in Tampa
 The final in a series of
three seminars given for the Continental
Telephone Reservations’ Agents
was held November 10, in Tampa. Jack
Chalk, a member of the TCB Board of Directors
and General Manager of Captain Don’s
Habitat, traveled to Tampa to conduct
the day-long briefings. As collateral
material, Jack distributed the Bonaire
Dive Flyers, Bonaire flags, Bonaire Maps,
and, of course, the ever-popular Furry
Divers. Bonaire dive footage played on
a continuous loop in the background.
Promotions
for Dive into Adventure – Bonaire
Getting Ready for Big US Debut
The press release is written
(and waiting until after the Thanksgiving
holiday for release) and a full page ad for
the January issue of Scuba Diving Magazine
is ready to go, all to promote next year’s
Dive Into Adventure – Bonaire. The
successor to the original Dive Festival,
next year’s
event promises the same core focus on the
adventure of scuba diving, while offering
more topside adventure activities for participants
to explore. So save the date, June 17-14,
2006 and look for the promotional roll-out
starting in early December.
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Dive
Newswire for November
In November one press releases was distributed
on Dive Newswire. The Bonaire Briefs press
release was distributed on November 7th.
Dive Newswire is distributed electronically
to more than 6,000 dive shop owners, manufacturers
as well as media outlets.
Bonaire
EZ News for November
In
November three issues of Bonaire EZ News
were distributed to our database of 35,000
consumers and travel agents. The November
1st issue focused on hotel packages
for winter 2005/2006, the November 14th
issue focused on upcoming events, while
the November 28th issue focused on island
news.
Press
Releases
As part of the ongoing press
release program, Adams Unlimited researches,
writes and prepares a steady stream
of releases for mailings to the
media for applicable editorial
coverage based on editorial calendars
and the need to disseminate timely
news. In November three press
releases were written. One was distributed
to the media: the Bonaire Briefs press
release. A special version of this
release was written and distributed
on Dive Newswire. The 2006 Calendar
of Events was drafted and will
be sent to the media in the coming
weeks. Additionally a press release
announcing the Dive Into Adventure
Bonaire event was drafted. Once
completed it will be distributed
to the media and on Dive Newswire.
Press
Visits
Made arrangements for the press
visit of writer Sam Logan, who was assigned
to update the Bonaire chapter of
the 5th Edition of the guidebook
Rum and Reggae‘s Caribbean.
He visited Bonaire November 18 – 21
to gather information and visit hotels
for review in the guidebook.
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Editorial
Highlights
Continental Airlines
In-Flight Magazine:
Bonaire is featured in the November
2005 issue of Continental’s in-flight
magazine. The article’s main
focus is on Captain Don and his conservation
efforts on the island. The article
also mentions that visitors can catch
up with Captain Don on Monday evenings
at the Manager’s Rum Punch Party
at Captain Don’s Habitat. This
placement is a result of Adams Unlimited
working with writer JoAnn Milivojevic
and sending her updated information
on the island and putting her in touch
directly with Captain Don. For your
viewing pleasure, the article
is attached.
European
Reporter: Journalist Vernon
Ramesar, who was invited to Bonaire
by Adams Unlimited to update the Fodor’s
Caribbean Guidebook, wrote an excellent
story for the European Reporter, a
magazine circulated in Canada, about
Bonaire in the November 17, 2005 issue.
Ramesar delves into the history behind
the salt pans and salve huts, and then
smoothly transitions into shopping
and nightlife. Diving, of course, is
also mentioned with great detail
about the water and other treasures
below the water. For your viewing pleasure,
the article
is attached.
Back to the top
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Dutch
Antilles Express …Valencia Curaçao
Bonaire
BonairExpress, under the new name Dutch Antilles
Express, will soon operate
flights on the route Valencia-Curaçao-Bonaire
and back, three times a week with an ATR 46 seats.
More information to follow.
Back to the top
Approaching
the Brazilian Market
TCB keeps moving ahead in Brazil,
an important market with a population of
more than 200,000 divers and where PADI has
53% share of certifications. PDIC has 30% and
the balance rest with the other associations.
 Our recent visit to the Brazil Dive Show
in Sao Paulo during the Sao Paulo Boat
Show from October 26th to November 1st
was very successful. We promoted Bonaire
and the dive packages of the different properties,
hotels and the Brazilian dive operators present
at the Bonaire booth.
An official Bonaire presentation
was given by Yasmin on October 29th presenting
the new DVD in Portuguese. The underwater
photographer Ary Amarante presented a beautiful
gallery of Bonaire pictures with sound effects
that captivated the audiences. At the end,
the participants received a certificate as
Bonaire sales reps. Ary Amarante received
a certificate as a Buddy of Bonaire for continuous
promotion of the island in the Brazilian
market.
The Brazil Dive Show
ended with a closer business relationship
with the key diving people from Sao
Paulo. The Bonaire Delegation was represented
by SunRentals, Lagoen Hill and TCB, all
of whom moved on to Rio de Janeiro for
a second presentation with the tour operator
Tripping, Varig’s official dive
operator. TCB had the opportunity to
meet with Mr. Alvaro Feio, one of the
Varig’s
Directors, lobbying him for BonaireExpress
agreements.
Presently, the connecting flights
to Bonaire from Sao Paulo and Rio are by Varig
and Avianca via Caracas or Aruba connecting
the same day with the BonairExpress flights.
Back to the top
Bonaire
Promoted in the Brazilian Diving Magazine
With a spectacular picture of
Salt Pier by photographer Ary Amarante,
Bonaire is promoted in the October edition
of Mergulho
magazine with a full-color, half-page ad
that was circulating during the Brazil Dive
Show. The advertisement, in Portuguese, highlights
the unlimited shore diving in Bonaire as well
as its excellent visibility and warm waters.
It invites divers to contact their Mergulho
Operators for its promotions to the island.
Ambiental – a
Brazilian Ecoturism Operator
A new ecoturism company has emerged in Brazil
which uses the name Ambiental. They have specialized
in eco-tourism since 1987 with operations throughout
Brazil. Ambiental also has its own diving department.
Expobuceo
1st Venezuelan
Dive Exposition
 From
October 28th
to the 30th,
at the biggest
mall in Caracas,
Sambil was
with the participation
of the main
dive shops
in Venezuela.
Bonaire was
present with
a nice booth
beside Trinidad
and Tobago
and other national
destinations,
as well as
those within
Venezuela such
as Los Roques.
It was three
days of much
activity at
the booth--not
only getting
in contact
with the diving
sector but
also with the
end consumers.
They requested
maps, general
information
and the programs
of the hotels.
We took the
opportunity
to add them
to our data
base to receive
updated information on
Bonaire.
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New
Bonaire
DVD in
Portuguese & Spanish
We
are
very
proud
of
this
new marketing
tool:
TCB
launched
the DVD
in Portuguese
during
the Bonaire
official
presentation
at Brazil
Dive
Show
on October
29th.
The
DVD (in
Spanish)
was also
aired
at
the Avavit
Trade
Show
from November
15th
to
16th
in Caracas.
Back to the top
Avavit
Trade
Show
This year's
event
took place
in Caracas
from
November 14th
to the
16th with
the participation
of
the properties
Sun
Rentals, Lagoen
Hill,
Divi Flamingo,
Bonaire
Inn,
and Hamlet.
Along
with TCB,
they were
promoting
Bonaire,
its
2006 packages,
and
the non-stop
flights
to
Bonaire from
Caracas
and Valencia
by Progressive
Air
Services. Avavit
is
the most
important
trade
show in
Venezuela beside
Caribe
tourism
exposition
in
May. The tour
operators,
travel
agencies
and
general tourism
sector
gathered
to
exchange information
and
find out what’s
new
at the different
destinations.
Many
dive
shops
came
to
the booth
to
talk to the
different
properties
regarding
their
next
groups
on
island.
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PAS
1st Year
Flying
Bonaire
Valencia
TCB Venezuela
congratulates
PAS, a
Bonairean
company
which,
in November,
celebrated
its first
year flying
to Bonaire
from Valencia.
Since August,
PAS also
started flying
to
Bonaire
from Caracas
twice a
week. TCB
gives all
its support
to this
important
air operation.
Back to the top
Gaceta
Aérea
from Venezuela
This magazine
is always
updating
Bonaire
information
to travel
agencies.
In its
October
edition
it lists
the flight
schedule
to Bonaire
from Valencia
and Caracas
by PAS,
as well
as the
BonairExpress
flights
from Aruba
and Curacao.
In its
November
edition,
the magazine
reported
on the
Venezuelan
wholesalers
fam trip
to the
island
at the
invitation
from Adventure
Travel,
TCB and
Plaza Resort,
Divi Flamingo,
Captain
Don’s
Habitat,
SunRentals,
Buddy Dive,
Bonaire
Inn, and
Belmar.
Back to the top
 The
Best
2006
Half
Page
Bonaire
Artwork!
La Agenda
del Mar
from Colombia,
an environmental
project
devoted
to the
sea and
nature,
informed
us that
Bonaire
won the
first place
for its
advertisement
in the
Agenda
del Mar
2006 in
the half
page ad
category.
Our award:
5 Agendas
del Mar
2006. Photographer:
Ary Amarante.
Back to the top
2006
South
American
Ad Campaign
in Co-op
Our media
and co-op
marketing
program,
has been
sent to
our hotels.
2006 will
be a decisive
year to
advance
in the
positioning
of Bonaire,
mainly
in our
primary
markets
Brazil
and Venezuela.
Back to the top
How
to Get
to Bonaire!
Travelers
are always
contacting
the tourism
office
to learn
more about
how to
get to
Bonaire.
Many e-mails
are received,
mainly
from Brazi,l
but now
it is a
pleasant
surprise
to hear
more from
Europe
(especially
Spain).
Back to the top
 Bonaire
Christmas
Card 2005
on its
Way
Our online
Christmas
card is
being sent
to our
data base
with our
best wishes
for the
upcoming
holidays.
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Upcoming
Events
Anato
Trade Show – Bogotà,
Colombia:
An important
trade
show will
be held
on dates
February
22nd
till 24th,
2006
For more
information
contact Yasmin
at southamerica@tourismbonaire.com.
Back to the top
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NEWS
FROM THE TOURISM SECTOR
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Indian
Dinner & Art Auction
Thursday, December
8, 2005 the second annual
Indian Dinner, in combination
with an art auction, will
be held again to benefit
the Animal Shelter Bonaire.
This year, the event will
be held at Bongo’s
Beach.
The dinner starts from 6.00
pm and the auction will start
at 8.30 pm.
The price for the dinner
has not changed and is still
Naf 45,00 per ticket.
Also this year,
many well known as well as
lesser-known artists will
participate. The Foundation
Animal Shelter Bonaire is
very thankful that these
artists are once again willing
to help the Shelter.
The auction
has no connection with the
dinner. If you don’t
want to have dinner, you
are still very welcome to
come at 8.30 pm to join the
auction. You'll enjoy the
company and perhaps you'll
even find a nice Christmas
gift for someone.
All profit
is fully for the benefit
of the Animal shelter. Tickets
are available/can be ordered
at:
Duijn Betonwaren NV, tel.
717 8721
Asecom NV, tel. 717 3207
Jacobs Architekten NV, tel.
7870466
Animal Shelter Bonaire tel.
7174989
Or by email: paulwichers@flamingotv.net.
Bonaire’s
Holiday Shopping Season Begins
with Cinnamon Art Gallery’s
Open House
On Saturday, December 3, 2005,
Cinnamon Art Gallery kicks
off the opening of the Bonaire
Holiday Shopping Season with
a special day dedicated to
art and gift ideas handpicked
to please the most discerning
person on your holiday gift
list. With their special Saturday
Open House, from 12:00 Noon
through 8:00 PM non-stop, the
Gallery will be open to allow
those who normally work Monday
through Friday to come in and
browse for their holiday shopping.
Snack on home-made cookies,
snickerdoodles (special cookies
with cinnamon), gingerbread,
and cinnamon candies along
with coffee, tea, juice, eggnog,
and winter rum punch while
choosing your holiday gifts.
In addition to the original
artwork by Linda and Jake Richter
and Avy Benhamron, the Gallery
will also be well stocked with
holiday goodies in a wide range
of prices—you’ll
find handmade cinnamon soaps,
Christmas ornaments, 2006 calendars,
mugs, postcards, posters, and
placemats. If you are far from
your loved ones, the Gallery
also has many items which can
be easily shipped, such as
posters or small framed prints.
Also, don’t forget to
shop for yourself, so you can
be sure your home is properly
decorated for the holidays!
Enjoy handmade bamboo incense
burners, cups, trinket boxes,
spa gift sets, cinnamon candles,
soap, salt crystals, goat-skin
foot stools, or napkin rings.
Special treasures are tiny
prints, matted with cinnamon,
sea glass, and shells.
Of course, original artwork
highlighting Bonaire is always
a special gift; the Gallery
will be offering Limited Edition
prints which can be matted
and/or framed, along with a
new series of framed 5x7” prints
by Jake Richter.
Holiday items will continue
to be available through January
5, 2006 during normal Gallery
hours for those who cannot
come for the special opening
on December 3rd, 2005.
Cinnamon Art Gallery is managed
by Bonaire Artists’ Foundation,
a non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting the
work of local artists in
a permanent gallery setting.
The Gallery does not accept
any payment for the work
of its featured artists --
when guests purchase Gallery
art, 100% of the monies received
flow back directly to the
artist. Private donations
provide all of the funding
for exhibits and the on-going
cost of maintaining the Gallery.
The Cinnamon Art Gallery is
located at Kaya A.P.L. Brion
#1 in downtown Kralendijk,
just off of Kaya Grandi. For
more information, contact the
Gallery at 717-7103 or info@CinnamonArtGallery.org.
The Gallery's web site is at
www.CinnamonArtGallery.org.
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Effective
December 15, 2005,
Golden Reef Inn Becomes
an Expanded Service Resort
Golden Reef Inn is ready
to officially open their
new units! In addition to
four studios, 1-bedroom
villa and three 2-bedroom
oceanview townhouses, they
will now have seven 1-bedroom
condo- type apartments and
a 2-bedroom villa. The other
new amenities include, air-conditioned
on-site office, Wannadive
Divers on-site shop,
rinse, storage, and fresh-water
shower facilities for all,
on -site gift shop, babysitting
services, daily continental
breakfast, in-ground swimming
pool, poolside lounge area,
BBQ Area, free wireless
Internet access, concierge
service, cellular phone
rentals from Chat 'n' Browse--get
an extra FL 10 phone
credit, free 5-minute computer
usage at Chat 'n' Browse
if you don’t have a
laptop to use the wireless
at the inn, 10% Discount
at Nubia’s Day Spa
and finally, Monday Night
BBQ featuring Chef Gibi and
a local Mariachi Band (reservations
required). For more details,
or to inquire as to packages
or reservations: Email: info@goldenreefinn.com,
Toll Free USA: 866-790-7333,
Local Bonaire: +1 599 717
57 59, Fax Bonaire: +1 599
717 57 54.
Back to the top
.
Tourism
Specials Now Available
Bruce
Bowker's Carib Inn is
offering specials for December
10 to 17, 2005. An efficiency
apartment or studio at $89
or one of the Pool Patio rooms
at $79 per night. Carib Inn
deals only direct with guests.
Call 011-599-717-8819.
Hotel
Bonaire Inn offers
a special for February
2006: 5 double rooms with
bathroom for one week,
breakfast, mountain bike
and tourist tax for US$240
per person (double occupancy).
Visit www.bonaireinn.com for
more details.
Back to the top
 Bonhata
Participants Successfully
Complete Training Seminar
Leadership Skills
On November 2nd,
2005, the first “Match
Consultancy Training Seminar” was
completed successfully by the
Bonhata participants! Upon
completion, the participants
were awarded with
a special certificate with
an authentic red seal.
Following the official part
of the certification, the completion
of the course was joyfully
celebrated at the Divi pool
area together with Divi’s
General Manager Maarten van
Wijk,  their administrative
assistant Michelle Pachaian,
their controller Gersham Binns,
Bonhata representative Diana
Sint Jago, the trainer of Match
Consultancy Merel Zanen & most
important the seminar participants
representing the following
companies: Violita Martina
from Divi Resort, Elisabeth
Heldewier, Andreina Marcano & Luis
Castro from Harbour Village,
Tasmi Phelipa from Sand Dollar
Resort and Amina Kromodimedjo & Jeanette
Trenidad from Bonaire Tours & Vacations.
“A special toast was
given to
the participants for their
enthusiasm, energy, and amazing
development they exhibited
during the course of this training.
Another toast was made to the
trainer, Merel Zanen, who succeeded
in connecting with the participants
and enhancee their self-esteem,
enthusiasm, motivation, pride,
trust, and communication. Having
completed her first training
seminar on Bonaire, this was
a very special moment for her,
as well as for Match Consultancy”,
says Annette van Rooijen, managing
director of Match Consultancy.
Maarten van Wijk added a few
words to the participants,
saying; “If all of you
are that good of managers as
my housekeeping manager, Violita,
I am proud of you and hereby
thank Match Consultancy for
their investments in such a
valid item as training. The
secret of training is not to
complete your course and leave
it at that; on the contrary,
one should continue to rehearse
what is learned and use
what you have learned on a
day-to-day basis. Good | | | |
