Willemstad, Curacao. // Photo by Joe Pike
Sitting on the outer fringes of the Hurricane Belt, the Southern Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao is an ideal destination for some storm-free summer fun.
Here is the latest Curacao hotel and culinary news for client heading to the island this summer and beyond.
Floris Suite Hotel & Spa Unveils Beachside Suite
Floris Suite Hotel & Spa in Piscadera Bay recently unveiled its exclusive beachside Spazio Suite. Located on an elevated platform on the sands of Moomba Beach, Floris’ private beach, the Italian suite features unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea. With its modern linens and simple color palette of whites and touches of Curacao blue, the chic 650-square-foot Spazio suite is a perfect compliment to the rest of the adults-only property. Guests who reserve the Spazio Suite also have access to a personalized butler service, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, a smart TV, Bose sound system and customized iPad.
Visit www.florissuitehotel.com.
ACOYA Hotel Names New General Manager
Ronald Kooistra has been appointed as the new general manager of ACOYA Hotel Suites & Villas, a member of the Ascend Hotel Collection. A Cornell University hospitality graduate, Kooistra previously served as the CEO of Papagayo Group in Curacao. As the general manager of the family-friendly property, Kooistra will oversee every aspect of the hotel’s operations, guest services, food and beverage venues, and marketing and sales strategies.
Visit www.acoyacuracao.com.
Goby Divers Offers New Diving Courses
Goby Divers, a boutique dive shop near downtown Willemstad, now offers PADI technical diving classes and rebreather equipment checkouts. The new classes range from introductory to advanced, allowing divers to enjoy the additional technical diving gear and practice basic skills, including primary to secondary regulator swaps and gas shutdown techniques. In addition, divers can now rent a Hollis Prism2 Rebreather (a closed circuit rebreather), which allows for quieter diving without bubbles and longer bottom time. The shop recently welcomed an experienced U.S. Navy diver and Hollis Prism instructor who will lead the technical diving classes. Goby Divers also offers intimate boat and shore dives to some of the island’s 65 different dive sites.
Visit www.goby-divers.com.
Baoase Introduces New Menu
Baoase Luxury Resort, the island’s only five-star Caribbean hotel, has recently introduced a new menu, designed to incorporate the season’s freshest ingredients. Staying true to its French and Asian roots, Executive Chef Rene Klop has fused together design, texture and taste to feature traditional French cuisine with an Asian twist.
Visit www.baoase.com.
New Restaurant Opens in Pietermaai
Situated in the trendy, up-and-coming area of Pietermaai, "Blessing," a restaurant at the boutique Hotel ‘t Klooster, opened its doors this month. Formerly a cathedral and monastery, the new restaurant features traditional chapel-style architecture and prides itself on sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients for itsdishes, which include Tuna Tartare, Smoked Mackerel, Roti Chicken and Red Snapper to name a few.
Visit www.hotelklooster.com.
Fort Nassau Launches New Menu
With 360-degree panoramic views of the Queen Juliana Bridge and Curacao’s colorful capital city of Willemstad, Fort Nassau Restaurant recently unveiled a new menu to complement its setting. Once an 18th century fort, the restaurant was remodeled two years ago, and now the menu is being updated to include a wider variety of "Fort favorites," including soups, salads, sandwiches and warm dishes.
Visit www.fortnassau.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest Caribbean travel news.