On March 27, 2026, the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) celebrated its seventh edition of the Standing Ovation Awards, a special program designed to recognize exceptional employees who have gone above and beyond in their dedication and commitment to the organization. As part of the ‘Team Building’ event, ATA honored those who demonstrated outstanding collaboration, effort, and contributions throughout the year 2025.
The Standing Ovation Awards program, which was introduced in 2019, has become a significant tradition within the ATA. Its purpose is to appreciate employees for their exceptional behavior, which aligns with ATA’s core values: compassion, caring, curiosity, and cooperation. These values guide ATA’s work culture, and the awards highlight employees who inspire others, foster collaboration, and promote a positive working environment.
The program acknowledges employees through the ‘High Fives’ concept. These ‘High Fives’ represent acts of kindness, support, and collaboration among colleagues, regardless of their function or location. Employees are nominated by their peers, allowing everyone in the organization, from different roles and departments, to contribute to the recognition process.
In the most recent edition of the Standing Ovation Awards, ATA expanded the program to include its international offices, allowing employees from Aruba’s headquarters (HQ) and various international markets to exchange High Fives. This initiative promotes greater cooperation between the different offices and strengthens global collaboration. Winners from international offices—Tiahna Croes (European office), Dalila Santiago (North American office), and Johana Santiago Infante (Latin American office)—were also celebrated at the event, marking an important step in fostering cross-border team building.
The year 2025 set a new record for ATA, with 682 High Fives exchanged, showing the program’s growing impact and the dedication of ATA employees. The awards ceremony recognized the top three employees who had received the most High Fives during the year. Among the winners were Susana Dangel, a Jr. Product Specialist, Erika Hincapie Patiño, a Branding & Niche Specialist, and the overall winner, Josette Croes, a Marketing Executive.
ATA’s CEO, Ronella Croes, took the opportunity to congratulate all the winners and thanked the HR department for their efforts in organizing this inspiring event. The continued success of the Standing Ovation Awards demonstrates ATA’s commitment to recognizing and fostering a positive and productive work environment, ensuring that employees feel valued and appreciated for their hard work and contributions to the organization’s success.
