Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5950
offers deep sea fishing, an underwater park, the famous Hato caves, and the Christoffel National Park (an 1,860- hectare national park, which features a mountain for hiking and the island's semi-arid vegetation and wildlife) as well as exciting casinos. Club Santa Catharina Convention Center is especially equipped for recep- tions, weddings, first communions, com- pany parties and meetings, small conven- tions, seminars and workshops, lectures and training sessions. They have eight meeting rooms, with 3,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space. The largest meeting room is the Queens Ballroom with a maximum meeting space of 3,042 sq. ft. and a maxi- mum seating capacity of 1,000. Bonaire is a desert island and the tem- perature, like that of Aruba and Curacao, stays about the same all year, always in the 80s. The small island located in the southern Caribbean is known for its pio- neering role in the preservation of nature, therefore scuba diving, snorkeling and windsurfing are much enjoyed by the locals and travelers alike. Bonaire's early days of slavery condi- tioned the people to be strong in the face of adversity. During this time the spirit of the people began to develop and they made up songs, invented dances, and began to sing in the old African Tradition. These songs and dances evolved into fes- tivals and have survived to become an important part of life and culture on Bonaire. Visitors to Bonaire will find a wide variety of places to stay. Bonaire's accommodations have been rated among some of the best in the Caribbean. Bonaire's Flamingo Airport brings trav- elers to the island from the nearby islands of Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten, as well as people from Europe and the U.S. On the island of Barbados, the Spanish, English and Amerindians have all left their indelible footprint and their customs have been integrated into Caribbean language, crafts and religion. In recent years, the island has seen more cultural arts coming to the forefront, with Bajan artists, designers, writers, musicians, singers, dancers and chefs all shining brighter than ever. The range of hotels on the island includes everything from internationally recognized chains to options for smaller budgets. There are hotels with all-inclu- sive packages, as well as family-run bou- tique inns and everything in between. The Hilton Barbados hotel boasts 350 ocean-view guestrooms, over 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and features a 4,000-sq. ft. Hilton Meetings complex, complete with business center, boardroom, two meeting rooms and an exhibition center. The hotel also has a 6,200-sq. ft. Grand Ballroom with a 570-person capacity – the largest hotel meeting space in Bridgetown, Barba-dos. Aruba's strong economy, excellent living conditions and prime weather continues to attract travelers from all over the world and remains one of the most visited islands in the Caribbean. Museums and art galleries are intimate affairs in Aruba, providing visitors vivid, snapshot-like views of the island's many influences and insight into its unique identity. For local flavor and bargain purchases, visit the island's fun, informal flea markets. Find a mix of Caribbean products, local snacks and even BBQ meals. Inexpensive, yet charming sou- venirs, can be found in abundance. Meetings, conferences and incentive groups can enjoy a full schedule of spe- cialty island activities in an environment that keeps the attendees fresh and ready to absorb new ideas. The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino offers seven meeting rooms that feature nearly 11,700 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space for groups from 10 to 800. The new Grand Ballroom offers 8,434 sq. ft. of space and can accommodate ban- quets of up to 560 people indoors. The resort presents accommodations that offer enhanced business services. Each of the 378 guest rooms and 35 suites of the Aruba Marriott offer high speed Internet, expansive work desks, plenty of natural lighting, and phones with voicemail and data port. The Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba is served by many major airlines and features a recently completed, multi- million dollar upgrade. Bonaire sea life abounds AREA GUIDES Photo Credit: Curaçao Tourism Board Photo Credit: Suzi Scoygert Black Meetings & Tourism December 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 73 Accommodations are plentiful and varied in Curaçao .