The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino honored a truly remarkable group of team members, just recently, in the presence of General Manager Lawrence Tuck, Owners’ Representative, businessman Rene Kan, the Minister of Tourism Danguillaume Oduber, members of the executive committee, and members of the HR department.
Glenn Farro, Director of HR, enjoyed the privilege of conducting the official part of the evening. During the event, the resort honored 19 individuals who have shown remarkable commitment and have helped build the foundation of the resort’s success, since opening day, in 1959. These honorees stand for a combined 576 years of valuable work experience. “This milestone,” said Farro, in his opening remarks, “speaks volumes about dedication, and the kind of passion that makes the team at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino extraordinary.”
Among the evening honorees were two remarkable, long-serving team members who have excelled in their roles and inspired generations of colleagues. As they prepare to retire at the ages of 75 and 73 respectively the resort wishes them much enjoyment, rest from hard work, and an easy transition into the next chapter of their lives after years of uninterrupted service.
The evening was dedicated to the honorees, as each one appeared on stage to accept their certificates, pins and gifts. As they did, their personal stories of growth and achievement were shared.
The evening traced their personal journeys and their career highlights, and achievement, received with loud rounds of applause. The common thread of the evening’s stories was the realization that careers built on passion and enthusiasm, are rewarding and long lasting.
Honored for twenty-five years of service were Aquilino Gadia, Ronaldo German, Carolyn Santos, Anastacia “Tasha” Agana, Liliana Angela Garcia, Roque Martinez, and Germaine-Geerman Wever.
Honored for thirty years of service were Maria Ureña, Angeline Dijkhoff, Jairo Maduro, Ramon Weindal, and Maikel Ras.
Honored for thirty-five years of service were Hubert Rozenberg, Thelma Franken, Edeltrudis “Betico” Flanegin, Jessica Robert, and Lucretia Minerva Pantophlet.
Honored for thirty-eight years of service were Bibi Ohab and Tomas Giel.
Bibi Ohab has been Director of Housekeeping for many years. She was first hired as night senior supervisor in 1986, and has shown strong leadership and organizational skills, which led to her almost immediate promotion as the executive housekeeper, then to her current position as director. Bibi leads a multicultural team ensuring high standards of cleaning and aesthetic appeal throughout the resort. Her commitment to providing exceptional guests’ experiences is unmatched.
Tomas Giel has enjoyed a 56-year career in hospitality, the majority of which was spent at the resort, where he served guests with grace, professionalism, commitment and a dedication to the spirit of Aruban hospitality. Tomas began his journey with the resort in 1986 as a Captain/Waiter and most currently serves as the Assistant F&B Supervisor before embarking on a well-deserved retirement.
In his address, General Manager Lawrence Tuck reported that in his travels as a hotelier around many international properties, he had never met such long-term dedication and the type of passion for hospitality he encountered at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort, where team members deliver consistent high-quality results, build strong relationships and strive to grow.
Just before the award ceremony, the Minister of Tourism Danguillaume Oduber, took to the stage to thank honorees from the bottom of his heart, acknowledging their contributions to tourism and to the economy of Aruba. “Our work is to bring guests to your doorstep, and yours is to make sure they are treated well and love every unique minute they spend on the island, leave some money behind to fuel our economy, and take some memories, along. Thank you for your outstanding product delivery.”
The culinary and banquet teams served an excellent three course dinner with a choice of appetizers and main courses. For dessert, event guests appreciated their choice of sweet potato pumpkin pie with crème anglaise or an individual baked Alaska with vanilla and chocolate ice cream topped with toasted marshmallows. The evening concluded with a group and individual picture opportunities.
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*Article written by Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
