ON ISLAND TIME news
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Staying healthy on vacation pages 14 & 15
w i n t e r
2018
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FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT Happy New Year to our owners, members and
guests! I hope all of you have enjoyed a safe and pleasant holiday season, and that 2018 has found you well. As you may know, we wrapped up the total property upgrade of Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort on Aruba in December. The resort has upgraded pools, completely renovated rooms, a brand new check-in building and improved landscaping and lighting throughout the grounds. We’ve greatly appreciated the positive feedback on the improvements from our owners, members and guests. You can see photos of the renovation on pages 10 and 11. If you’d like to check out Divi Dutch Village’s new look in person, feel free to stop by one of our concierge desks to arrange a property tour. 2018 will continue to see renovations and improvements to our Resorts including: • Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort – Completion of renovations to units in buildings A, B, C and D, new lobby furniture and the enclosing of puredeli for air-conditioned comfort. • Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort – Phase 3 and 4 upgrades to Golf Villas. • Divi Southwinds Beach Resort – Continuation of the renovation to all units, reopening of our main pool bar and refreshing the lobby. In September 2017, two of our Resorts took direct hits from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. It was devastating for all of us to watch our staff and guests go through such a terrifying experience. Having personally gone through Luis in 1995, it brought back very sad memories. Right after the hurricane, Divi Resorts started a gofundme campaign to raise money for staff members. I personally want to thank each and every owner, member, guest and employee for their generosity. 100% of the proceeds raised have gone to help our staff.
resorts reconstructed, not just as good as they were before, but even better. We hope our loyal owners, members and past guests will visit St. Maarten and St. Croix as soon as we reopen to give our staff and the islands a much-needed boost. We look forward to seeing you on our islands soon – and remember, we always appreciate your feedback. I personally read many of your reviews on TripAdvisor and comments on Facebook, and it makes me happy to know that you think we are doing an excellent job. I also greatly appreciate hearing the areas upon which we might improve. We consistently strive to exceed your vacation expectations – that’s always been our goal, and will continue to be, no matter the season.
Sincerely,
We are committed to rebuilding Divi Little Bay Beach Resort on St. Maarten and Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Resort on St. Croix, and have made great progress towards getting these
Marco Galaverna President and COO of Divi Resorts
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DIVI GM Fondly known as “Mr. G” by owners and guests at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort, General Manager Gerrit Griffith is a true Divi veteran who has been a staple in our company for many years. We recently got a chance to talk with Mr. Griffith about his experiences and why he loves his job as a Divi GM.
You are Divi’s longest tenured General Manager – how long have you held this role? “I’ve been a Divi Resorts GM on Aruba for around 32 years! I actually joined the company 41 years ago, in June of 1976, as Assistant GM. During my many years with this company, I’ve managed all five Divi properties on the island.” How does serving as GM of Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort differ from managing the other Divi properties? “I’ve actually had similar experiences managing each property because fortunately, a lot of our owners and regular guests own or stay at multiple Divi Resorts on Aruba. As a result, I’ve gotten to know many of these families over the years and have been lucky enough to serve them at each of the properties I’ve managed. Divi owners and guests tend to have the same high expectations when they vacation with us, and I’m happy to play a role in delivering the signature ‘Divi style’ that they have come to know and love.” What does the “Divi style” mean to you? “The ‘Divi style’ means taking a hands-on approach to customer service. I don’t spend
my whole workday behind a desk; I believe it’s very important for me to be out and about on the property, meeting guests and making myself available when needed. Everywhere I go around the resort, I hear guests greeting me with a friendly ‘Hello Mr. G!’ That sense of familiarity ensures that I am well known and easily accessible to our owners and guests. They know that I am there to listen and help if they ever have an issue during their stay. The ‘Divi style’ also applies to my management style, the same management style I see across all Divi properties. We greatly value our staff and always keep our doors open to them. And in return, our staff share this same level of value and service with our guests.”
What is the best part of your job as a Divi GM? “First and foremost, the best part of my job is interacting with guests. I love welcoming back owners I have known for years, as well as meeting first-time visitors. I also enjoy the support system that has formed amongst our staff. Here, we don’t simply know our team members as individuals; we also know their friends and families. In this small island community, it’s incredibly important to feel supported by your team and know that you and your family are valued. We definitely have that kind of relationship here at Divi Phoenix, and you can see the positive impact it has on our company culture.”
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How is the culture at Divi Phoenix affected by your team’s involvement in our Divi Cares program? “The staff at each of our Divi Resorts on Aruba work together to give back through the Divi Impact Initiative, which is part of Divi Cares. I think this active involvement in community service helps foster caring, positive attitudes among our team. Our staff loves calling Aruba home, and programs like Divi Cares make them feel good about helping make our community a better place to live and our resort a better place to work.” Read more about our company-wide Divi Cares program on pages 12-13.
3 Reasons to become a divi vacation club member today!
1 PURE FUN The Divi Vacation Club was created especially for you, our valued owners and guests. It’s bursting with endless savings and benefits at incredible destinations around the Caribbean and the world.
3 PURE FLEXIBILITY
2 PURE VALUE Divi Vacation Club members enjoy endless travel deals and substantial discounts on bonus getaways, accommodations, airfare, rental cars, cruises, plus lastminute travel getaways and short stay packages!
With a Divi Vacation Club membership, you choose the accommodation size that fits your needs. Midweek or weekend arrivals let you travel at your convenience. Planning your vacations has never been easier!
Join now & receive Club Loyalty Benefits*
P L AT I N U M
Our new loyalty benefits program delivers valuable savings on: GOLD
club services – save money each time you travel on reduced fees, special discounts and more!
PRES
IDEN
T’S E LITE
club recognition – as an elite member, you’ll always be treated like a VIP, ensuring that you feel like a priority the moment you arrive at any of our Divi Club Destinations.
LOYALTY SHOULD ALWAYS BE REWARDED
club amenities – fantastic savings at Divi Club Destinations on dining, shopping, golf, spa, water sports and more!
learn more about the divi vacation club today! If you are staying at a Divi Resort on Aruba… Guests at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort – Call ext. 7002 or 7004. Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Guests at Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort – Call ext. 4652 or 4653. Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Guests at Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort – Call ext. 793. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
STOP BY OUR LOBBY CONCIERGE DESKS ON ARUBA AND LEARN MORE! If you are not staying on Aruba, please call 1-888-863-6822/1-919-419-3484 or visit www.divivacationclub.com. *Availability and savings on Club Services, Club Recognition and Club Amenities differ by Club Loyalty Benefit level.
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FEATURED MEMBERS
Meet our featured President’s Elite members for this issue, Brenda and Joseph Farmer, from Morningside, Maryland Meeting Brenda and Joseph Farmer, from Morningside, Maryland, you get the sense that they are devoted, not only to each other, but to their vacation time as well. Seven years ago, while walking along Palm Beach, they came across Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort and took a tour. The couple purchased one week in August on the spot, and then for the next six years kept adding to their ownership. Last year, they decided to become Divi Vacation Club President’s Elite Members, owning Pure Points Prime, which gives them flexibility to enjoy both their fixed weeks or Pure Points, depending upon their travel plans. “We come every August for multiple weeks,” explains Brenda. “It’s our anniversary and a special time for us. We sometimes have family join us, but the rest of the time is for the two of us to unwind.” While they love their one-on-one time, the Farmers share the third
week of their stay with friends and family, enjoying quality time together and discovering tourists spots around Aruba. Last year, when their son got married, they gifted the lucky couple a honeymoon at Divi Aruba Phoenix using some of their Points. During their visit last August, the two celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in a very special way. On August 8th, the island of Aruba invited lovebirds to “Renew Their I Do’s” as the sun set on Eagle Beach. Donning all-white attire, the Farmers joined in on the picturesque event. “It was very romantic,” says Joseph. “We had pictures taken at Divi Aruba Phoenix, then we were taken to participate in this beautiful ceremony with hundreds of couples. Afterwards, they had plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment, and there were even photographers to capture the perfect moment. We were simply overwhelmed.
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We were even interviewed by Aruba Today and ended up in the local newspaper!” The night came to a close with a surprise pampering from the wonderful staff at Divi Aruba Phoenix, including a turndown of rose petals, champagne, candles and anniversary cake at one of the restaurants. Coming up next year is the Farmer’s big family reunion. They banked points from this year to use next year so that their two sons and in-laws could all be together. “The flexibility of Points means that everyone can have their own unit and be comfortable,” says Brenda. “Coming back to Aruba is like coming home and we consider ourselves locals. The staff is always so welcoming and we love seeing them every year, they never change. We also take buses everywhere, walk every day for miles, and have made great friends who we see every year.” For Brenda and Joseph Farmer, being a part of the Club is the gift that keeps on giving.
ISLAND ADVENTURER With so many great things to do and try on your Caribbean vacation, we thought we’d offer some ideas and insight into learning something new—or perhaps just more information on a sport you love—as well as the best places to enjoy the experience on our islands. hi serge!
Q. How long do courses take, what’s the minimum age, and what’s the cost? A. Anyone ages 10 and up can learn how to scuba dive. I recommend beginners start with the Discover Scuba Diving course; it’s a half-day experience under direct supervision from instructors. The class, one dive session, and use of all required equipment costs $97.50. The Open Water Certification lasts about four days. Once certified through this course, you’ll be able to dive anywhere in the world. This package includes classes, four open water dives, and the use of all necessary equipment for $480.
For this issue, we’re diving into a sport that’s been around for more than 70 years and can be enjoyed at virtually any age. Before we take the plunge into diving, we’ve asked for some advice from the highly-experienced Serge De Groote, manager of Divi's PADI fivestar dive operation, Divi Dive Bonaire, located at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino. Divi Dive Bonaire’s recently renovated full-service dive shop specializes in instruction for any level of experience. It carries all necessary rental gear and has a fleet of five dive boats—all the better to help you enjoy one of the world’s most renowned dive locations.
Q. How do the two courses differ? A. With our Discover Scuba Diving course, you get a short theory session, you’ll learn how to perform basic skills in shallow water, and finally, you’ll enjoy a beautiful dive on our house reef to a maximum depth of 40 feet. The nice thing about our intro class is that it counts toward the full Open Water Certification, should you fall in love with diving and decide to get certified later.
Q. What’s the best way to learn the great sport of diving? A. The best way to learn diving is to visit a PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) fivestar facility and take a course. Divi Dive Bonaire offers Discover Scuba Diving courses for beginners interested in familiarizing themselves with the sport. You can also get your Open Water Certification here.
The Open Water Certification contains full classroom lectures, five confined water sessions, and four training dives. This certification is the scuba diving standard and is valid worldwide.
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Q. Do you actually get to dive with the instructors? A. Yes you do! All of our classes are led by highly-experienced certified dive instructors, who accompany you on all class dives.
Casino. It’s very special and rare to be able to dive right from the shore. Our house reef can be accessed both day and night. Divi Dive Bonaire’s boat diving options are just as extensive. From Klein Bonaire to Karpata, and down south, we cover all of the best dive sites. Our fleet of five dive boats range in size from 36 to 42 feet—some of the largest on Bonaire.
On another note, remember to never dive alone! For safety reasons, it’s important to always have a diving buddy.
Q. Anything else we should know? A. Many of our customers are photography enthusiasts. All of our custom dive boats are equipped with large camera tables and freshwater camera buckets, making it a breeze to capture the perfect shot. Additional features such as comfortable dive ladders and wide swim platforms make diving from our boats easy for those with limited mobility.
Q. If readers are already certified or have some experience, what does Divi Dive Bonaire have to offer? A. For experienced divers, Divi Dive Bonaire also offers specialty courses in Wreck Diving, Deep Diving, Night Diving, Multi-Level Diving and more. Divers can also earn other PADI certifications from Divi Dive Bonaire, including Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster, upon request.
Exclusive dive packages are available year-round at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino, offering a seven-night stay,
Q. After you have your certification, what types of dives do you recommend on Bonaire? A. The stunning Calabas Reef, one of the most accessible and beautiful dive spots on the island, is just 20 yards from Divi Flamingo Beach Resort &
daily breakfast, 11 boat dives, unlimited shore diving, roundtrip airport transfers and free Wi-Fi for as low as $1,042 per person. All-inclusive packages are now available. For more information, visit www.diviresorts.com/dive-divi.htm or call 800-367-3484.
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TASTE OF THE ISLANDS FOOD TRENDS—CARIBBEAN STYLE! We recently caught up with our
We’ve also stumbled upon ancient
busy Regional Executive Chef,
grains like farro, amaranth, black
Matt Boland, to discuss food
rice and black garlic.
trends throughout the Caribbean
Elevating the ingredients in
and how they are utilized in
our dishes is pivotal. We want
restaurants at Divi Resorts.
the ‘WOW’ effect that comes from blending these unique
“Being in the Caribbean, what’s
combinations, so they burst with
available both locally and around
flavor in your mouth.”
the region is always on my mind and the minds of our Executive
We hope all of our guests relish
Chefs. But, we also like to play and
these zesty flavors at Divi Resorts
experiment with new creations,
restaurants and enjoy every
and recently we’ve been getting
moment of their dining experience.
inspiration from the Far East and beyond,” says Boland.
“We know the backdrop of the Caribbean is stunning,” explains
“We are discovering flavors
Boland, “and we understand
like Korean Kimchi, Japanese
the need for it to be perfectly
Togarashi chili pepper miso and
balanced by the beauty on
North African ras el hanout spices.
your plate.”
New Menus & New Look!
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CULINARY NEWS Many of our restaurants have recently M updated their menus. We would love for you to try these tasty new choices and let us know what you think at comments@diviresorts.com.
We’ve recently updated Windows on Aruba with refreshing new carpet, drapes, chairs and lighting. We think it looks great! Plus, Executive Sous Chef, Darwin Torres has added some divine new dishes and healthy choices to Windows on Aruba’s already delicious Sunday Brunch and Dinner Specials menus.
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Check out our new menus at: windowsonaruba.com pureoceanrestaurant.com purebeacharuba.com mulligansaruba.com
NEW & IMPROVED ON ARUBA Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort • Completing renovation of units in buildings A, B, C and D, adding new furniture, air conditioning and appliances • New Wi-Fi high-speed access and tiered pricing for owners and guests who want to enjoy higher speeds • New dinner menu items added to pureocean • New tapas menu added to purebeach
Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort • Completed Phase 3 buildings 11-13. This finalizes the total renovation of Dutch Village which includes: o Three completely redesigned pools o Tiki Tiki Café food service at Phase 2 pool and a new swim-up pool bar o New check-in building o Upgrade of all units o Refreshed landscaping and lighting throughout the resort
Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort • Completed renovations to Windows On Aruba • Enclosure of Mulligan’s Café, Bar & Restaurant • New menu items added to Windows on Aruba and Seabreeze Restaurant & Sports Bar • Wi-Fi upgrade installed in buildings A, B, C and D • Updated flooring in the Divi Links Pro Shop
ON BARBADOS Divi Southwinds Beach Resort • Work continues on upgrades to refresh unit bathrooms and bedroom furniture, including replacing kitchen appliances and adding new drapes and lighting • New pool and beach furniture
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WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK! We are pleased to announce that work continues on the rebuilding of Divi Little Bay Beach Resort on St. Maarten and Divi Carina Bay All-Inclusive Beach Resort on St. Croix. We hope to have both of these beautiful resorts open and welcoming back owners, members and guests very soon. You’ll always find the most up-to-date information on www.diviresorts.com and on Facebook.
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DIVI CARES
ARUBA Soup Drive For St. Maarten In the fall, we were delighted to band together to help with Holiday Inn’s efforts to raise money for those impacted by the devastating hurricanes on St. Maarten. Organizers coordinated a Soup Drive which raised several thousand dollars for the Red Cross, and gave our Aruba staff a way to support friends, family and associates on St. Maarten.
BARBADOS Breast Cancer Society Walk For The Cure In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 43 Divi Southwinds Beach Resort employees took part in the Breast Cancer Society’s Walk For The Cure. The event, in its 6th year on Barbados, attracted over 18,000 participants. At the heart of the event is raising awareness and money to educate more Barbadian women about gynecological cancers and encourage regular testing and assistance after diagnosis. Men and women of all ages, church groups, non-governmental organizations, the elderly and even babies in strollers came out in great numbers to support this worthy cause.
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BONAIRE Celebrating HousekeepingWeek Divi Resorts recently celebrated International Housekeeping Week with a variety of fun events and treats. On Bonaire, staff members enjoyed a week of lively events including bountiful breakfasts, extra training, tips on great new ways to decorate for special occasions, and some enjoyable time off-shore! We’d like to recognize our hardworking housekeepers on Bonaire and all of our islands for the terrific work they do every day. Get to know Changtai Puguero Corporan, Assistant Housekeeping Manager at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino, in our Employee Spotlight on Page 16.
Thank You For Your Support After two hurricanes and a tropical storm struck the island of St. Maarten this past fall, Divi Resorts established a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for staff affected in the aftermath. We’d like to thank all of our owners, members and guests who donated. Your support and kind words meant the world to our Divi Little Bay staff and to all of us at Divi Resorts. Our beautiful Divi Little Bay will be back better than ever. Stay Strong St. Maarten. Thank You.
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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
KEEPING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION THE DIVI WAY Your New Year’s resolution for improved health and fitness doesn’t have to be put the back burner just because you’re on vacation! We know our Divi Resorts destinations are your home away from home, so in addition to healthy dining options at all of our resorts, we also offer a variety of fun ways to stay active during your vacation with us!
Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort
Beach Walk Water Aerobics Pool Volleyball
Mon., Wed., Fri. Monday - Friday Monday - Friday
7:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Meet at villas BBQ area purebeach pool Villas pool
Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort / Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort Health Club Daily 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Bike Rentals Daily 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Water Aerobics Daily 10:00 a.m. Free Tennis Clinic Mon., Wed., Fri. 9:00 a.m. Rock Wall Climbing Tues., Thurs., Sat. Tues. & Sat. 9-11:00 a.m. Thurs. 2-4 p.m. Merengue Class Monday 4:00 p.m. Bike & Snorkel Tour Tuesday 8:00 a.m. Golf Putting Contest Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Golf Tournament Wednesday 2:00 p.m.
Divi Tamarijn All-Inclusive Resort Divi Tamarijn All-Inclusive Resort Seabreeze or Infinity pool Divi Village tennis courts Divi Village rock wall Seabreeze Terrace at Divi Village Divi Tamarijn All-Inclusive Resort Putting green at Divi Village The Links at Divi Aruba golf course
Divi Southwinds Beach Resort Aquasize Mon. & Fri. 9:30 a.m. Pool Miniature Golf Contest Thursday 3:00 p.m. Miniature Golf Course Beach Volleyball Mon. & Fri. 11:00 a.m. Beach Volleyball Court Tennis Clinic By appointment By appointment Tennis Courts
Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino Aqua Stretching Tuesday 7:30 a.m. South Pool Adult Salsa Lesson Tuesday 5:30 p.m. pureocean Kids Zumba Thursday 10:00 a.m. Capture 2 Adult Sunset Yoga Thursday 6:30 p.m. puresundeck
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GET YOUR FIT ON THE DIVI WAY At Divi Resorts, we truly believe dining should be both nutritious and delicious, and we pride ourselves on being your healthy escape in the Caribbean. We caught up with Regional Executive Chef Matt Boland, as he shares insights into how he and our Executive Chefs review menus to ensure nutritious choices are always available.
cook your food also makes a difference,” Boland says. “We roast instead of fry, and grill for flavor using low-fat or no-fat sauces and dressings.”
“We are committed to making healthy eating easy for guests at Divi Resorts,” says Boland. “I’ve personally done a great deal of research on eating and cooking habits for healthier living, and I’ve tested these wholesome recipes on my own friends and family. The key is to surround yourself with nutritious products.”
At Divi Resorts, we think you should feel refreshed, reinvigorated and full of energy after eating, especially knowing you’ve made healthy choices. And now, you can finally fulfill your New Year’s resolution, while still enjoying scrumptious culinary cuisine at one of our many restaurants!
Boland’s healthy selections include mouthwatering Citrus & Herb Cajun Salmon Salad, Soba Noodles with mixed veggies, a Vegetarian Burger and many glutenfree items, among others.
Boland says using assorted fruits, spices, vinegars, marinades, mustards, herbs, exotic roots, grains and natural sweetness in meals helps to “kick it up a notch” without the added calories or fat. Cooking with “good” oils like olive, canola, avocado and safflower also keeps his dishes nutritious. In his healthy eating recipes, Boland swaps out white rice and other starchy, empty carbohydrates with whole grains and legumes to keep blood sugar levels normal. “Changing the way you
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF WORKING FOR DIVI RESORTS? The best part of working for Divi Resorts is that we are a great big family, all working together as a team for a common goal– making guests happy. When a guest approaches me or one of our staff members to thank us for our service and special décor, that is the greatest satisfaction! TELL US ABOUT THE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS YOU’VE MADE AT DIVI FLAMINGO BEACH RESORT. I get along very well with everyone, but with the guests, it’s something special. We have many return guests, and I’ve had the opportunity to socialize and get to know them better thanks to the manager rum punch party we host once a week. It’s wonderful to hear about their families, and most importantly, their experiences on the island. Just knowing that I play a part in making their tropical getaway a dream come true is an absolute honor. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TOWEL ANIMAL TO CREATE FOR GUESTS? I love all of my towel animals, so it’s hard to choose just one! I just let my creativity flow, and my design is usually customized for the occasion. For honeymooners, I like to decorate the room with hearts, candles, and flowers. For other occasions, I tend to create whales, flamingos, turtles, monkeys, or puppies.
She’s the queen behind the scenes, making your special occasions that much more extraordinary! Changtai Puguero Corporan, Assistant Housekeeping Manager for Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino in Bonaire, is in charge of managing and coordinating the logistics of daily work, and ensuring that rooms are perfect for the arrival of our guests. But her true talent lies in the enchanting towel animals she creates for guests as an added treat. We recently chatted with Changtai to get a sneak peek into the inner-workings of a tropical, Caribbean resort. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR DIVI FLAMINGO BEACH RESORT? I have been with Divi Resorts for a year and a half, organizing daily housecleaning activities and prepping rooms for our guests’ arrivals. I also decorate rooms for special occasions like honeymoons, birthdays and special receptions.
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WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING ON YOUR DAYS OFF? My favorite activities when I am not working are swimming and snorkeling. Bonaire has some of the most amazing beaches, and beneath the water is a magical, mysterious paradise like no other. DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIDER TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME GUESTS? The advice I have for guests is to fully enjoy the island of Bonaire, Divi Dive Bonaire, and our many Resort amenities, like our restaurants, pools and beach. You’ll find everything we do here is done with much love and dedication.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Divi CaribbeanCROSSWORD Crossword DIVI CARIBBEAN 1
2
5
3
4
6 7
8 9
11
10
12 13 14
15
16
17
18 19
20
ACROSS
DOWN
5 Thatch hut you’ll often see on a Caribbean 1 The first name of the President & COO of Divi ACROSS beach Resorts 5 Thatch hut you'll often see on a Caribbean beach 7 Divi’s signature restaurant brand 2 British influence can still be seen on this island 7 Divi's signature restaurant brand for the Divi Vacation Club You don’t need a passport to visit this 8 Acronym 3 8 Acronym for the Divi Vacation Club island in the Divi collection wordword for afor sailing competition 9 Another 9 Another a sailing competition 11 Bonaire is famous fortype this type of underwater exploration in the is famous for this of underwater 4 This bright and vivid bird can be found 11 Bonaire 13 "Welcome" in the Aruba and Bonaire language of Papiamento wild on Bonaire exploration 14 Swim here forAruba a change from the ocean this in the and Bonaire 13 “Welcome” 6 A Divi Resort on Aruba is named after 16 Surfers catch these language of Papiamento mythical bird 18 "Dropping" this will keep a ship from drifting away herenumber for a change from theare ocean OneResort side of the island of St. Maarten 14 Swim 10 Divi 19 The of islands that home to at least one is Dutch; the other side is ______ 16 Surfers catch these 20 Namesake of the only Divi Resort on St. Maarten12 Island lizard /www.puzzle-maker.com/crossword_FreePuzzle.cgi 1/2 18 “Dropping” this will keep a ship from drifting away 13 The color of the Aruban flag 19 The number of islands that are home to at 15 What you’ll probably do at The Links at Divi least one Divi Resort
Aruba 17 This island is often called “the culinary capital of the Caribbean”
20 Namesake of the only Divi Resort on St. Maarten
Across: 5 - Palapa, 7 - pureocean, 8 - DVC, 9 - Regatta, 11 - Diving, 13 - Bon Bini, 14 - Pool, 16 - Waves, 18 - Anchor, 19 - Five, 20 - Little Bay Down: 1 - Marco, 2 - Barbados, 3 - St Croix, 4 - Flamingo, 6 - Phoenix, 10 - French, 12 - Iguana, 13 - Blue, 15 - Golf, 17 - St Maarten
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
ARUBA’S NEW YEAR’S PLUNGE
ARUBA www.aruba.com/things-to-do
January: New Year’s Plunge Join hundreds of participants on Moomba Beach for a plunge into the ocean to usher in the New Year.
Aruba Carnival Season Carnival begins in January and the celebration continues through February with various events and festivals.
The Lighting Parade This evening parade in Oranjestad kicks off the Carnival season by incorporating thousands of tiny lights into the costumes and floats of participating Carnival groups, creating an impressive display.
Betico Croes Day A day filled with cultural sports and musical activities in celebration of the father of the Aruban nation.
ARUBA’S INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON
February:
Flag and Anthem Day
Aruba Carnival Season
A festival celebrating Aruba’s National Anthem and National Flag with sporting events and activities for all ages.
Held in the weeks leading up to Lent, Aruba’s Carnival is a massive islandwide celebration with dozens of competitions, events and parties.
Carnival Queen’s Election
BARBADOS www.visitbarbados.org/things-to-do
Come celebrate the election of the Aruba Carnival Queen.
January:
Aruba’s Grand Carnival Parade
Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race Series
The island’s largest Carnival parade, the Grand Parade is held in Oranjestad and marks the end of Carnival. Come witness the vibrant spectacle of colorful, exuberant costumes, floats and music.
Now in its 81st year, the Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race is an island tradition. It involves three days of coastal racing and an ocean passage race to Antigua.
March:
A fun-filled week of international and regional film screenings, celebrity appearances, filmmaker workshops, panel discussions and special events. Enjoy a unique selection of world-class feature length films, documentaries and shorts. www.barbadosfilmfest.org
32nd Aruba International Half Marathon Local and international runners can participate in Aruba’s longest foot race from San Nicholas to Eagle Beach.
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The Barbados Independent Film Festival
january
2018 - march 2018
SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP
NEW YEAR’S MASKARADA ON BONAIRE
The 2018 Festival will take place from Sunday 21st to Sunday 28th. www.honeyjambarbados.com/honey-jazz/
www.tourismbonaire.com
bands and singers vying for title of Tumba King or Queen with their original music and lyrics.
January:
Karnaval Grand Parades
February:
New Year’s Day Maskarada
Both Rincon and Kralendijk celebrate Karnaval with activities and parades. The Grand Parade is held the Sunday before Ash Wednesday in Kralendijk. Featuring lively music, colorful costumes and spectacular floats, it’s a “must see” for any tourist.
The Honey Jazz Barbados Festival
Holetown Festival This festival celebrates the anniversary of the first British settlement on Barbados in 1627. Highlights include local arts and crafts, exhibitions, street parades, music and plenty of local food. For details visit www.holetownfestivalbarbados.org.
March: Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup The Barbados Gold Cup is a thoroughbred horse race that has run annually on the first Saturday in March every year since 1982. This is the most popular horse race in the Southern Caribbean with spectators coming from around the world. www.barbadosturfclub.org
Cricket Tournaments Come to the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown to see an exciting match and discover why cricket has been one of Barbados’ most popular sports for more than 120 years.
BONAIRE
On New Year’s Day, locals celebrate Maskarada by dressing in disguise and dancing outside of the Lt. Governor’s home to wish the family a Happy New Year.
Bonaire International Fishing Tournament The 29th year for this exciting tournament will feature food, fun and of course, fishing, with great prizes awarded for top catches.
Dive Friends Cleanup Dive Dive Friends Bonaire, hosts their quarterly Underwater Cleanup Dive where participants can help pick up trash along selected coral reefs and beaches.
February: Tumba Contest As part of Bonaire’s Karnaval, this musical competition features local
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March: Kitemanera Bonaire Local and international kitesurfers gather together for a weekend of camaraderie and friendly competition. For details, visit www.kitemanera.com.
Cultural Market This market brings together local arts and crafts, delicious food, educational presentations and live music to celebrate the unique culture of Bonaire.
Simadan (Harvest) Festival Rincon This traditional celebration of the growing season’s harvest takes place on Easter Monday.
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news fall 2017: dividev.diviresorts.com/ 4thQ-Newsletter-Fall2017.pdf summer 2017: dividev.diviresorts.com/ summer-newsletter2017-NoCropMarks.pdf spring 2017: divivacationclub.com/downloads/ island-time-spring-2017