ORANJESTAD — Aruba’s new and upcoming tourism developments for 2024 include new hotels and milestone anniversaries.

Says Ronella Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority: “2024 will be a landmark year for Aruba as a destination, and we are thrilled for the enhancements that will make The Aruba Effect stronger than ever. With new property developments, technological innovations, major cultural moments, and more, we’re sure the feeling of rejuvenation that our visitors experience while on the island will continue long after returning home.”

Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba (photo credit Aruba Tourism Authority)

MAJOR HOTEL OPENINGS

The Iberostar Grand Aruba will celebrate its grand opening and welcome guests for the first time this summer.

Featuring 240 premium suites and located across from Eagle Beach, the adults-only resort will be the first Iberostar property in the Dutch Caribbean and represents the further diversification of hotel options available to visitors.

Outside of the suites, guests will enjoy access to the Tierra del Sol golf course, three restaurants, five bars, two pools, and a spa.

Next up, the St. Regis Palm Beach Aruba Resort is set to open at the end of 2024.

With its highly anticipated debut on the island, the St. Regis brand will expand its high-end portfolio with 220 luxury rooms, five-star amenities and top-class dining, spa, and pool offerings. The hotel will be just the second St. Regis property in the Caribbean.

NEW CULINARY OFFERINGS

In addition, the culinary offerings available at hotels and in nearby Oranjestad have heightened throughout the island due to a handful of 2023 openings and enhancements that will elevate the 2024 experience

• Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino debuted its newest restaurant, Mercát in the fall of 2023. Featuring Mediterranean cuisine made from fresh ingredients and influences from Spain, Italy, Lebanon, and Greece, Mercát combines Mediterranean design with Caribbean views resulting in a relaxed atmosphere with a strong connection to the land and sea.
• Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba introduced a brand-new restaurant, The Coco Café, in 2023, offering a Caribbean-inspired menu that ranges from breakfast to dinner and features tropical bar bites, salads and bowls, vegan options and popular entrees from the land and sea. Featuring a covered patio nestled amongst the hotel’s colorful casitas, the venue features a colourful and tranquil ambiance.
• Divi and Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusives redefined their culinary offerings in 2023 with additions and renovations, including Le Café, Pure Lime Restaurant and Ginger.
• Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino recently unveiled a full revamp of its feature restaurant, Ruinas Del Mar, including a complete renovation of the dining room and the introduction of a new menu. Inspired by the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, the restaurant pays homage to this iconic piece of Aruban history and features a variety of land and sea options.
• KOAL is the newest chef’s table experience in Aruba, featuring a vintage setting in the heart of downtown Oranjestad’s historic district. Sixteen guests are seated around the open kitchen as Aruban-born Chef Albert Raven showcases his flair over a five-course dinner.

This year also includes a major milestone for the celebration of Aruban culture with the 70th anniversary of Aruba’s Carnival.

Now through mid-February, locals and visitors alike will take part in the biggest Aruban Carnival yet with festive block parties, spectacular parades and musical events lighting up the One Happy Island. The festivities culminate with the Grand Carnival Parade on Feb. 11.

New resources to streamline travel to and from the island are also on the way. Slated for March 2024, Aruba will roll out the Aruba Happy One Pass, a digital travel credential system that will allow travellers to complete pre-boarding verification, share their information directly with immigration officials, and smoothly cross border checkpoints without providing their physical passports.

Visitors can take advantage of new flight options to Aruba in 2024. Air Canada has restarted its service from Toronto to Aruba, with three weekly flights. And Westjet has also increased the frequency for the winter 2023/2024 season.

For more information check out aruba.com.