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a8 LocaL
Monday 12 october 2020

Aruba native Alex Van Der Linden

reaches for the sky

neering. As a child, his love
of flight was also inspired
by his father’s work with
Air Aruba. After moving to
Georgia, where he grew
up, there are two things
that Alex always knew: he
wanted to be a pilot, and
Waffle House serves the
best comfort food.
For the last four years, Alex
has spent his time in Colora-
do Springs, Colorado, at the
Air Force Academy. Before
he left, he Googled, “How
many Waffle House loca- He spends his time bal- cost, weight, performance,
tions in Colorado Springs?” ancing research projects and reliability. After he
and three showed up on in the Aerospace Systems completes his graduate
the map. Now graduat- Design Laboratory with his program, it’s off to another
ed from the U.S. Air Force main focus on his project adventure — pilot training
Academy with a Bachelor for the Defense Advanced for the Air Force under the
of Science in Aeronautical Research Projects Agency Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot
Engineering, the active 2nd (DARPA), which invests in Training Program (ENJJPT).
Lieutenant is a master’s stu- technologies supporting But today, he is proud to be
dent in the Daniel Guggen- national security. on Georgia Tech’s campus
ATLANTA, US — Aruba na- At age five, Alex designed heim School of Aerospace Van Der Linden’s research to follow in the footsteps of
tive Alex Van Der Linden is his own Boeing 787 for his Engineering. focuses on active flow con- his grandfather.
determined to become a kindergarten science fair “I feel my Air Force expe- trol (AFC), an evolving field And it doesn’t hurt that
test pilot in the United States — getting help from his U.S. rience has instilled great of fluid dynamics. His goal Atlanta has more Waffle
Air Force. He also loves the Army veteran grandfather time management skills, dil- is to demonstrate signifi- Houses than any other city
Georgia-based restaurant who graduated from Geor- igence, and communica- cant efficiency benefits of in America.
chain, Waffle House. gia Tech with degrees in tions skills that will help me AFC in an effort to make Source: http://www.news.
architecture and civil engi- succeed at Tech,” he says. improvements in aircraft gatech.edu. q

Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA):

Occupancy Forecast is 45%

ORANJESTAD — The Aruba by 81% to $31.65. the average occupancy
Hotel & Tourism Associa- was 26%, and the forecast
tion has published the lat- 2020 FIRST 3 QUARTERS for October is 38%.
est hotel performance data Occupancy: The year-to- AHATA member hotels:
showing that in September date average occupancy Amsterdam Manor Beach
the occupancy dropped is 68% lower than last year, Resort, Barceló Aruba,
by 83%. at 29.1% rate. Boardwalk Boutique Hotel,
RevPAR: The year-to-date Brickell Bay Beach Club,
SEPTEMBER 2020 revenue per available Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort,
Occupancy: The occupan- room, tourism’s primary in- Courtyard by Marriott, Divi
cy rate is 13.7% compared dicator, dropped by 61% to & Tamarijn All-Inclusive, Ea-
to 79.5% a year ago. Hotel $93.53 gle Aruba Resort, Holiday
occupancy recovered by Inn Resort Aruba, Hyatt Re-
17%. FORECAST gency Aruba, Hyatt Place
ADR: The average daily TIMESHARE Aruba Airport, Manchebo
rate (for occupied rooms) AHATA’s Timeshare prop- Beach Resort, Marriott
increased by 8% compared erties are experiencing a Aruba & Stellaris Casino, ace Aruba, RIU Palace An- shares: Divi Aruba Phoenix,
to last year, to $231.46. higher occupancy than Paradera Park, Renais- tillas, Talk of the Town Hotel. Divi Dutch Village, Divi Vil-
RevPAR: The revenue per the hotels during the recov- sance Aruba Resort, The lage Golf, Marriott Ocean
available room dropped ery of tourism. In September Ritz-Carlton Aruba, RIU Pal- AHATA member time- Club, Marriott Surf Club.q