[ON LOCATION] LYDIA GREGORY
During a recent visit, we experienced just why the beachfront Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino offers meeting planners an ideal blend of business amenities and leisure attractions.
Let’s start with location. The resort is in what locals call the “high-rise” area, which begins just beyond Eagle Beach and extends along the pristine shores of Palm Beach. This is where you’ll find the more prominent international hotel brands, along with numerous waterside eateries and plenty of watersports facilities. It’s a clean, walkable beach with clear water and gentle waves. It took about 20 minutes to get there from the Queen Beatrix International Airport along a main road—the island, by the way, doesn’t have a single stoplight, just a series of roundabouts.
Of note: When departing the island, the recommendation is to arrive at the airport three hours before departure. Take heed. I cut it very close at two, not realizing one must go through numerous security checkpoints. One of these, happily, is U.S. Customs and Immigration, so if an attendee has Global Entry, it’s quick and painless, not to mention they don’t have to worry about it when they arrive back home. I used up every bit of my two hours, and there weren’t that many people as it was a weekday. However, this is where Aruba’s “One Happy Island” part shines, as everyone involved in the process was unfailingly polite and did their utmost to make the arduous process easier.
Back to the resort: The Marriott Aruba has 414 rooms and suites, 24 of them oceanfront suites. We stayed in the airy 1,100-sf Governor’s Suite with a wraparound balcony—one of four—which can double as a space for a small meeting or intimate cocktail hour. The most plentiful category is the Premium Ocean View at 116; most categories offer two queen-bed options. The hotel also boasts an adults-only section (18+), Tradewinds, comprised of 62 deluxe rooms and suites with upgraded amenities, a private Tradewinds Lounge and an adults-only H2Oasis pool with cabanas. The WiFi connection, by the way, is strong and reaches the beach palapas.
The hotel will undergo a floor-by-floor renovation of all its accommodations in April 2025. We saw two new rooms, and the upgrades are from top-to-bottom: Besides all-new furnishings, flooring and decor, the bathtubs are gone, replaced with modern rain showers with all the amenities. The new design is contemporary and airy, with wood accents and sandy tones.
The renovation is expected to be complete by the end of October 2025. It will be done using “buffer” floors above and below the construction so the hotel remains open during that time. Complex General Manager Raoul Lemmerling shared they will offer attractive group rates during the renovation period for small groups beginning in March 2025. The onsite Mandara Spa—where I enjoyed a delightful relaxing massage with Elemis products—will also be renovated in 2025.
Lemmerling also shared that although the hotel has 400+ rooms, they do not offer buyouts, and their “sweet spot” for group size is anywhere between 125 and 175 attendees. However, the facilities can accommodate up to 880 for events. The resort has 10,450 sf of flexible event space, including seven meeting rooms, six breakouts and two ballrooms. The new Grand Ballroom spans 8,345 sf and can be divided into four separate salons. This, in addition to a variety of outdoor and beachfront locations, which range from garden settings and patios to the beach, are perfect for receptions, teambuilding exercises or al fresco dining. It’s important to point out that Aruba’s climate, though Caribbean, is also very desert-like, which means low humidity and a nice cool breeze that will keep attendees comfortable.
Culinary options at the resort are just as varied. In addition to room service, attendees can access 11 options throughout the resort and the neighboring Aruba Marriott Ocean Club, including familiar names like Starbucks and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. In addition to the delicious Mediterranean menu at the new Mercat (the main restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner), I also very much enjoyed dinner at Atardi, which offers a fine dining menu served with toes in the sand—during the day, this space is home to the casual Waves Beach Bar & Grill.
Active attendees will appreciate the resort’s 2-story fitness center, equipped with modern cardio and strength-training equipment. There’s a free-form pool with music, entertainment and a swim-up bar in addition to the H2Oasis adults-only pool, and the resort also offers tennis, pickleball, basketball, beach and pool volleyball, as well as watersports activities, from paddleboarding to snorkeling, all ideal for teambuilding exercises or leisure time.
And then there’s the onsite Stellaris Casino, which adds an element of excitement for attendees looking to unwind after hours. The largest casino in Aruba, it features an array of slot machines and table games and was wrapping up a complete renovation as of press time.
The Marriott Aruba’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its various eco-friendly initiatives. The EarthCheck-certified resort has implemented energy and water conservation measures and a robust recycling program, among other efforts. This Sustainability & Impact platform not only reduces the resort’s environmental impact but also aligns with the growing demand for sustainable meeting venues.
arubamarriott.com