13 Jan 2020
New Hotels in Aruba: A Booming Hotel Expansion
Multi-million dollar investment in hotels in Aruba sees the Dutch Caribbean holiday idyll going from strength to strength.
One new property has opened while two more have reopened following extensive remodelling. Meanwhile, the management contract for another new, adults-only hotel, due to open in 2021, has been announced, underlining the hospitality industry’s confidence in the future growth of the destination.
The new hotel is the Hyatt Place Aruba Airport, the second Hyatt-branded property on the island and the first hotel within the airport complex. With 116 rooms, the hotel is within the Aruba Airport Business Centre, directly adjacent to the Reina Beatrix International terminal, just three miles from island capital Oranjestad. A covered walkway links the hotel and the airport.
The property is part of a mixed-use development that will include offices, car rental facilities, food court, shops and a restaurant.
Hyatt Place Aruba Airport
Meanwhile, Marriott International has invested $45 million in the newly-renovated and rebranded Courtyard by Marriott Aruba Resort in the heart of popular Palm Beach. The 148 guest rooms are centred around an oasis of tropical gardens and pools. There are two saltwater pools and a swim-up bar. A new Kid’s Club is next to the pool area with the new Allegra Bistro, for stylish casual dining, close by.
Courtyard by Marriott Aruba Resort
The second re-opening is that of the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba, following a two and a half year, $10 million investment project. The family-owned and operated property, a short walk from Palm Beach, has added 32 new casitas on the lush grounds of a former cocoa plantation, along with a multi-experience pool, fitness and spa facility and a lobby café.
The property’s existing 14 casitas were recently refurbished. Guests can stay in various intimate suites called Coco Casitas, in oversized one and two-bedroom casitas, a stand-alone private plunge pool casita or a lodge offering sea views and a wrap-around terrace.
Boardwalk
The boutique hotel’s signature patios, barbecue grills and hammocks feature in every casita, as well as large living spaces and fully-equipped modern kitchens and kitchenettes. The project has also extended the outdoor seating area for reading and relaxation.
The next new hotel in Aruba will be the Secrets Baby Beach Resort and Spa, scheduled to open towards the end of next year and for which AM Resorts has just secured the brand management contract.
This means the 600-room property will be the first Secrets-branded property for Aruba. AM Resorts, a leading North American hospitality management companies, is already preparing for the opening of new properties in Curaçao and St Martin.
Baby Beach is on a tranquil lagoon in the south of Aruba, close to second city San Nicolas. The adults-only resort will offer the Secrets brand signature Unlimited Luxury holiday concept, which covers all dining and service options, including reservation-free gourmet a la carte dining options, 24-hour room and concierge services, unlimited premium brands drinks package, daily refreshed mini bar and live night-time entertainment.
This a major development for this southern area of Aruba, adding another option for visitors, away from the more established resorts to the west of Oranjestad.
