On Friday afternoon, the second edition of the AHATA Impact Award took place, organized by the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA). The awards program recognized various companies that stood out in the past year for their social responsibility and investment in improving our community. An independent panel of five professionals reviewed and analyzed 33 applications from companies dedicated to creating a positive impact in our community.
Based on the official criteria selected by the judges, a winner was named in each of the 4 categories of the AHATA Impact Award: “Cultural Heritage Representation,” “Employee Well-being Development,” “Environmental Protection,” and “Social Investment,” each representing a pillar of sustainability.
The winners of the AHATA Impact Award 2024 for their exceptional efforts in the well-being of our island are:
- La Cabana Beach Resort for “Cultural Heritage Representation.”
- Aruba Marriott Complex for “Employee Well-being Development.”
- Tropical Bottling Company for “Environmental Protection.”
- De Palm Corporation for “Social Investment.”
During the ceremony, AHATA President and CEO Tisa LaSorte presented a bronze sculpture handcrafted by artist Gilbert Senchi to the 4 winners. Additionally, 4 companies that also demonstrated significant contributions to our community received honorable mentions. The honorable mentions are:
- Aruba Marriott Complex for “Cultural Heritage Representation.”
- Divi Resorts for “Employee Well-being Development.”
- Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort for “Environmental Protection.”
- Tropical Bottling Company for “Social Investment.”
AHATA is proud of the immense dedication of the winners and thanks all companies that include sustainability goals in their annual plans and take action to contribute to positive change on our island. With the success of the AHATA Impact Award, the association fulfills one of its main goals of supporting sustainable business and hopes to inspire more participation and dedication from the commercial world in practices and initiatives with significant cultural, labor, ecological, and social impact.
The panel of judges, who dedicated their time and knowledge to the awards program, consisted of:
- Daniel Tecklenborg – Director of CEDE
- Rosabelle Illes – PhD in Psychology and Faculty Member of the University of Aruba
- Jan Noordzij – Director of Advance Human Resource Services
- Francielle Lacle – Sustainable Development Advisor
- Edjean Semeleer – Co-founder of Go Cultura Foundation
AHATA thanks the sponsors of the ceremonial event: Alhambra Ballroom, Elite Productions, and BEE4 Consultancy and Events.
For more information on the sustainable efforts of each of the 33 nominations for the AHATA Impact Award 2024, visit ahata.com/impact-awards.
