TCB Worldwide | TCB - Europe Report
 Clipping report TCB Europe >
Last week TCB Europe finished the new clipping report reaching over 700.000 euros in PR-value. It's filled with articles and press releases about or related to Bonaire and from interviews about the nature and tourism to glamorous reports in glossy magazines. The private sector on Bonaire brings a great contribution to this clipping report with complimentary rooms, cars and meals. Together with the private sector as well as our press partners again a great job is done for our Island. Thank you for your contribution!
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 < Think Tank CTO Chapter Holland
On April 1st 2008, CTO (Caribbean Tourism Organization) Chapter Holland organized a Think Thank Meeting for all members. Of course, TCB Europe was represented at the brainstorming session about the preferred initiatives and activities by CTO Chapter Holland. Different subjects were points of discussion, like the added value of CTO Chapter Holland and the way members are informed. The moderator of this brainstorm session was Mr. Edwin van der Stam, Director KPMG Business Advisory Services and former Board Member of P&O Ferries. In the following Entre Nous we will report the results of CTO's Think Thank Meeting.
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 New e-zines boosts traffic to www.tourismbonaire.com! >
Last month we told you that the Dutch version of the Bonaire newsletter got a totally different designed e-zine. The latest statistics about www.tourismbonaire.com shows us a big boost when it comes to the numbers of visitors to this website! Of course all on island activities are promoted i.e. Bonaire Dive Into Summer, Bonaire Heineken Jazz and the International Year of the Reef.
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Video promotion kick off
Thanks to the new website TCB Europe is able to launch the planned video promotion in the Netherlands. After handing out the Golden Egg to Duikeninbeeld.tv at this years Vakantiebeurs, the new website www.tourismbonaire.com will be enriched with moving content. At first content already available at TCB Europe's office in Haarlem, later this year followed by so called user generated content: videos of our tourists and other Bonaire-lovers.
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 < Dive videos added to website
The new website with its content management system gives the TCB offices all kinds of opportunities to use and incorporate new online marketing techniques. At first TCB Europe started to enrich the website by adding the unique dive videos. These videos were shot over the last couple of years and are part of a special content library at TCB Haarlem. After launching the new website a new part of the marketing master plan came together. TCB Europe was able to enlighten written content by videos. As to be seen at for example http://www.tourismbonaire.com/nl/duiken/duikvideo_1000_steps/ and http://www.tourismbonaire.com/nl/duiken/duikvideo_wrakduik_hilma_hooker/
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 Extra flights ArkeFly to Bonaire >
Great news! ArkeFly is going to expand its flights to Bonaire with an extra weekly flight. In winter 2008/2009 will also arrive on Thursday! As a result, tourists can book not only holidays for 9 or 16 days. But then it is possible to book holidays of 11 or 14 days. That's good news for the beautiful island of Bonaire! TCB Europe will cover the markets by sending out press releases, web mails and e-zines to the different target groups.
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TCB Worldwide | New York Report
Bonaire National Marine Park Receives Prestigious "Sustainable Tourism Award" >
The Bonaire National Marine Park received the prestigious Islands Magazine/Caribbean Tourism Organization Sustainable Tourism Award at a luncheon during the Sustainable Tourism Conference that took place April 30, 2008 in Turks & Caicos. Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse accepted the award on behalf of Bonaire and was accompanied by Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes and Elsmarie Beukenboom. The Sustainable Tourism Award recipient was selected by a panel of judges from Islands Magazine and the Caribbean Tourism Organization, who reviewed all of the entries submitted by CTO member countries. Last year, three of Bonaire's eco-programs were honored in the Islands Magazine Hot 100 Blue List, and in 1994 the Bonaire National Marine Park won the Islands Magazine Ecotourism Award.
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 <Captain Don Honored at Beneath the Sea
Captain Don was honored at the annual Beneath the Sea tradeshow in New Jersey on March 30, 2008 with the Pioneer of the Year Award. Captain Don was accompanied to the Awards Dinner by his life companion Janet Thibault, as well we Candice Kimmel, Marie Rosa and Sarah Biggerstaff from TCB-NYC. In presenting the award to Captain Don, Mr. Dan Orr of the Divers Alert Network stated "even when you think of the thousands of people Captain Don has known, it's still amazing how old he's getting." In his acceptance speech Captain Don stated, "We (in Bonaire) have changed the attitude of many divers. We do the right thing. Let's toast to those who make a difference."
 
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Extra! Extra! Read all About Delta's Flight from Atlanta to Bonaire
Continuing to promote Delta's non-stop flight from Atlanta to Bonaire, an April 15 e-newsletter from Sport Diver magazine featured information about the flight and Bonaire's star attraction: scuba diving. Readers were informed about the convenience and amenities of the flight, as well as what Bonaire has to offer for visitors. For your convenience, the e-newsletter is attached (click here).
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Papy Cicilia Promotes Bonaire in the Be A Diver Booth at the Atlanta Travel Expo
 The Bonaire sponsored Be A Diver Pool made the stops during the last month, including the Dive Into Ocean Careers event in Naples, Florida April 10-12; the Atlanta Travel Expo April 11-13; and Ocean Fest Dive & Adventure Sports Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida April 18-20. Bonairean expert Papy Cicilia was on-site at the Atlanta Travel Expo to mingle with the Atlanta area dive retailers over breakfast and to talk to potential visitors about activities, accommodations, language, culture and cuisine. The next scheduled Be A Diver pool stop is June 7-8 in Indianapolis, Indiana for the Luau at the Met summer festival.
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Bonaire Marine Park Seminars Featured During Oceanfest in Ft. Lauderdale
Michelle van der Valk and Augusto Montbrun were special guest speakers during the recent Deep Ambitions Aquatic Career Fair in affiliation with the Ocean Fest Dive & Adventure Sports Expo in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In addition to speaking to the 75+ audience of high school students about the Bonaire National Marine Park, Michelle and Augusto were given the opportunity to discuss how the private sector supports the eco-positioning of the Island; in particular, annually bringing Ned & Anna DeLoach to visit, give seminars and dive with the guests at Buddy Dive Resort.
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Bonaire EZ
News
 One issue of Bonaire EZ News was distributed in April to our database of consumers and travel agents. The issue was distributed on the 30th and featured information about Bonaire Dive Into Summer and the monthly showcase events including International Year of the Reef Week, Scuba Diving Magazine Week, the Pro Kids Windsurfing Competition and Love Our Planet Week.
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Dive Newswire
 In April one press release was distributed on Dive Newswire featuring information about Bonaire Dive Into Summer and the monthly showcase events including International Year of the Reef Week, Scuba Diving Magazine Week, the Pro Kids Windsurfing Competition and Love Our Planet Week, and was posted to the site and distributed on April 2. Dive Newswire is distributed electronically to more than 8,000 dive shop owners, manufacturers as well as media outlets. Additionally, the releases were also distributed on DiverWire, the consumer newsletter of DiveNewswire that is emailed to a database of more than 1,500 subscribers.
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Press Releases
As part of the ongoing press release program, Adams Unlimited researches, writes and prepares a steady stream of releases for mailings to the media for applicable editorial coverage based on editorial calendars and the need to disseminate timely news. In April one press release was written and distributed to the media featuring the lineup of performances for the Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival.
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Press Visits
We secured the press visit of Bill Wahl to attend the Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival, May 22-25, 2008. Bill is the Founder and Editor of the popular jazz music online magazine Jazz & Blues Report (www.jazz-blues.com). Bill will be writing an article about the jazz festival for the website which receives approximately 60,000+ hits per month.
We secured the press visit of Kevin Wierzbicki to attend the Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival, May 22-25, 2008. Kevin is on assignment to cover the festival for the popular music website www.RocknWorld.com. Kevin will be writing an article about the jazz fest for his feature column “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” which receives approximately 40,000 unique hits per article (the site receives 18 million hits per month).
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Editorial Highlights
MSNBC.com (online circulation)
Bonaire was featured on MSNBC.com during the week of April 21, 2008 in an article written by Mr. Jad Davenport, as a result of his TCB sponsored press trip secured by Adams Unlimited. The visit took place last year from September 30 to October 7, 2007. The article, which is also featured in the May 2008 issue of Sport Diver magazine (circulation 200,000), highlights the coral spawning season in Bonaire. Elements of the article include a summary of a presentation about coral spawning season given by REEF volunteer Linda Ridley; a conservation chat with Captain Don; a variety of day and night dives at various sites in the Bonaire National Marine Park; and a tarpon named Charlie. Special thanks is given to those entities that offered assistance during Jad’s trip including Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Buddy Dive Resort, Budget Car Rental, Capture Photo and Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino. MSNBC.com is one of the top news and entertainment websites in North American and has a monthly audience of over 24 million users! To read the article in its entirety, please visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24203286.
National Geographic Traveler (circulation 725,174)
Bonaire was featured in the April 2008 issue of National Geographic Traveler in an article about the top three scuba diving destinations. As the number one destination, Bonaire is highlighted for its farsighted environmental protections dating back to the 1960s. Jerry Ligon is quoted for stating, “Staff from other marine parks in the Caribbean come here to see what we’re doing right.” A color photo of flamingos accompanies the article. This article is not available online.
Ebony (circulation 1,403,483)
The Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival was included in the May 2008 issue of Ebony magazine in the “What’s Happening Where?” travel column. Dates and venue are listed. Ebony magazine focuses on general, contemporary topics that are important to African-American women. Features include education, history, sports, travel, fitness and entertainment. This article is not available online.
Caribbean Travel & Life (circulation 155,000)
Bonaire’s Blachi Koko Apartments was featured May 2008 issue of Caribbean Travel & Life in a special column by David Swanson about the top 25 all-star affordable hotels in the Caribbean. David was last in Bonaire July 26-30, 2007 on a TCB sponsored press visit secured by Adams Unlimited. Blachi Koko is featured as number four and is highlighted for being just 50 feet from shore, each unit having its own kitchen and porch area with a hammock and the old-school Amsterdam bikes that are available. Prices, contact information and the website for Blachi Koko are listed. A beautiful color image of the sun deck of one unit accompanies the placement. This article is not available online.
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TCB Worldwide | South America Report
April 30th ABC islands promoted on the Queen's Birthday
We received an invitation from the Embassy of Holland to assist at the private residence of the Ambassador and Mrs Marian Nijenhuis to celebrate the birthday of the Queen.
This year there was special recognition for Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The ABC islands have shown an increase of visitors coming from Venezuela in recent years, especially in 2007.
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Flamingo Rep's Anniversary
Time flies! Last April 07th, Flamingo Representaciones marketing Bonaire in the South American region celebrated its 11th anniversary.
An occasion when Yasmin Pèrez its director, remembers her team in Bonaire and the people in each market that make possible, easier and fun the promotion of the island. This year again with an increase of visitors from South America (especially Venezuela) to Bonaire.
But how to forget the people working next to her, real Bonaire lovers at the office! Thanks to you all!
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^ Maribel Arcia
Assistant Manager |
^ Evelyn Garcia
Marketing Advisor |
^ William Ramirez
Public Relations
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^ Nicole Nuñez
Trainee |
^ Yasmin Pérez
Flamingo Reps´ Director |
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Airlift news
Dutch Antilles Express
On April 14th, DAE announced a new schedule in the route to Bogotá. The airline will fly Mondays and Fridays. Below the itinerary:
Monday
DAE 975 CUR-BOG 13:30-14:10 - DAE 976 BOG-CUR 14:45-17:30
Friday
DAE 975 CUR-BOG 12:00-12:45 - DAE 976 BOG-CUR 13:30-16:15
Insel Air
The airline is planning to fly in June to Bonaire from Valencia via Curacao.
More information on the air operation, in the upcoming entre nous.
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Brazilian tour operators promoting Bonaire at DecoStop
In this major diving magazine on its trimester edition (Feb, March, April), the tour operators Arribatur, Adventure Travel, Vectra and Tripping with nice and colorful advertisements, are promoting its weekly diving packages to Bonaire.
Following Mergulho, DecoStop is the second dive magazine found at the diving schools in all Brazil. Hotels promoted in the ad: Plaza Resort, Harbour Village, Buddy Dive, Port Bonaire, Bonaire Ocean Front, Caribbean Club Bonaire, Sand Dollar.
 
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Bonaire Ocean Front at Rio Boat Show 2008
Last Apr 12, Bonaire was promoted together with the small property Bonaire Ocean Front, during the event Rio Boat Show in Brazil organized by our colleagues Alcides Falanghe from Mergulho magazine and Paulo de Tharso from Tripping.
The event was well attended with more than forty five divers coming to the presentation. At the end, divers participated in the traditional one week raffle to Bonaire, courtesy of Bonaire Ocean Front.
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Bonaire news
Our monthly bulletin to the trade and consumers is focused in the event "Dive into Summer" and all the program, taking place on Bonaire from June to September 2008.
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This has been a busy past month for TCB. Bonaire has once again received international recognition for its dedication to the environment. The good news continues with increased tourism numbers, added direct flights and added staff to help run our many programs. While we continue to reach our goals of growth with sustainability, TCB is ever mindful of the contribution that our stakeholder, visitors and all the sectors have made to make it all possible.
The award was presented by Mr. Ty Sawyer, the Editorial Director for Islands, during an awards luncheon at the 10th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference in Turks and Caicos. Bonaire's Lieutenant Governor Herbert Domacasse accepted the award on behalf of the Island and was accompanied by Mrs. Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, Director of Tourism and Elsmarie Beukenboom, Director of STINAPA.
We have been informed that 
We are very excited to be able to announce the addition of Ms. Rose-Anne Rollan to the TCB family. She was born and raised on Bonaire and attended local schools before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of the Netherlands Antilles this past March.
