From May 1 - October 31, Aruba Pays Homage to Travel Professionals with Destination-Wide Travel Agent Months (TRAM)

Oranjestad, Aruba – April xx, 2008 – The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) and the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA) are honoring travel professionals in 2008 as the island gears up for Travel Agent Months (TRAM). Starting May 1 through October 31, 2008, the TRAM program is designed to give participants the opportunity to experience the tropical paradise and all that the island where happiness lives, Aruba, has to offer, in order to better sell the destination to vacationers. TRAMS are open to travel agents, reservation agents at an airline and Aruba Certified Experts (ACE) agents who must be qualified by May 2008 for eligibility. Agents who utilize Aruba's TRAM program will enjoy multiple nights at an assortment of different hotels and resorts island-wide, many of which have been recently renovated to offer the utmost in Caribbean luxury.

The TRAM program allows agents to explore Aruba with a companion and consists of three offerings (based on availability and on European Plan pricing [room only, no breakfast] unless otherwise noted) including:*

• A maximum of six nights (three at a high-rise and three at a low-rise property) for $390 [$270 for ACE agents]

• A minimum of four nights (two at a high-rise, two at a low-rise) for $260 ($180 for ACE agents)

• A maximum of seven nights for agents traveling on a charter flight (three at a high-rise, four at a low-rise or vice versa) for $455 ($315 for ACE agents).

Complimentary roundtrip ground transfers for agent and a companion are provided courtesy of De Palm Tours for arrival and departure on Aruba. Air is not included. Participating hotels include: **

High-Rise

Occidental Grand Aruba (All-inclusive only)

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Holiday Inn Sunspree Aruba Beach Resort

Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino

Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

Westin Aruba Resort

Hyatt Regency Aruba Beach Resort & Casino

Brickell Bay Beach Club

Low-Rise

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort

Bucuti Beach Resort Aruba

Divi Aruba Beach Resort (All-inclusive only)

Divi Village Golf & Beach

Talk of the Town

The Boardwalk Vacation Retreat

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa

The Mill Resorts & Suites

Tierra Del Sol Resort

MCV Eagle Beach Aruba

Aruba Resort & Casino at Eagle Beach

Aruba’s valued ACE agents get the added bonus of discounts when signing up for the TRAM program. ACE agents are Aruba’s destination specialists and the island is dedicated to continuing to educate and nurture this group of loyal, enthusiastic and productive travel providers by offering a variety of benefits like cash back bonuses, marketing support, and more. For more information on becoming an Aruba ACE agents, please visit agents.aruba.com

“Travel professionals are extremely important to Aruba. We are dedicated to giving our partners in travel the opportunity to visit and see what makes our island so unique in order for them to truly be able to go back and share their first-hand knowledge and experiences of Aruba. That is what the TRAM program is all about," said managing director for the Aruba Tourism Authority, Myrna Jansen-Feliciano. “We consider our partnerships with travel agents from all over the U.S., crucial to our tourism industry. Through our TRAM initiative, we get the chance to showcase the best of Aruba so that agents can return to their clientele and better sell the destination."

For more information on planning a trip to Aruba, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority at 1-800-TO-ARUBA or visit online at www.aruba.com. For a TRAM application, please visit agents.aruba.com. ACE agents should visit agents.aruba.com/Login.html.

Aruba, where happiness lives, is truly a vacationer's paradise. Located only two-and-a-half hours by air from Miami and four hours from New York City, the island is ideally situated outside the hurricane belt and boasts year-round cooling trade winds and perfect weather with average annual temperatures of 82 Fahrenheit and less than 20 inches of rainfall per year. Aruba serves up 27 luxurious hotels/resorts, championship golf courses, sumptuous spas, vibrant casinos, extraordinary international cuisine, exclusive shops and boutiques, exciting land and water activities, unique cultural to-dos, world-famous music festivals and events and more. The backdrop of a pristine tropical escape coupled with the unforgettable hospitality of the islands people keep Aruba’s first-time guests delighted and its repeat visitor rate at 40%, the highest of any Caribbean destination. For more information on planning a trip to Aruba, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority at 1-800-TO-ARUBA or visit www.aruba.com.

*The TRAM program is applicable at participating hotels and is available only to inside sales and managerial personnel directly responsible for travel agency sales. Each agent is entitled to double room accommodations. All flight arrangement are the sole responsibility of the agent and passengers are responsible for Aruba Airport Departure Tax. Once the application has been processed, no changes are accepted.

**Various hotels and resorts on island also offer all-inclusive package plans. The cost of these plans are in addition to the TRAM rates and need to be requested upon check-in directly at the property.