Wind Creek Aruba has received the 2025 AHATA Impact Award for Employee Wellbeing, acknowledging the resort’s outstanding, holistic commitment to creating a workplace culture based on care, connection, and purpose. Presented by the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, the award recognizes businesses that go beyond industry standards to prioritize the personal and professional well-being of their employees.
This year’s win reflects Wind Creek Aruba’s long-standing commitment to the belief that a thriving team leads to a thriving guest experience. While the resort offers a wide range of employee programs, from education and emotional support to mentorship and recognition, its Helping Hearts & Hands initiative served as the cornerstone of the award submission.
“Helping Hearts & Hands isn’t just a program – it’s who we are,” said Paul Gielen, General Manager of Wind Creek Aruba. “We’ve always believed that when people feel seen and supported, they thrive. This award is a celebration of our team’s dedication to one another and the culture we’ve built together. It’s never been about recognition, but this award is a meaningful milestone for our team. The real impact has always been in what we’ve seen firsthand: people helping people, no questions asked.
Helping Hearts & Hands is a confidential, employee-driven emergency relief fund designed to support team members during unexpected moments of hardship. Whether it’s medical travel, family emergencies, or damage to their homes. Both the company and employee contributions fund the program, and disbursements are treated as gifts, not loans.
Beyond HH&H, the resort’s employee wellbeing initiatives include:
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- Internal education and leadership training, including GED certification programs and custom leadership courses.
- Dedicated HR support for each department leader to foster consistent, value-aligned management.
- Selective, purpose-based recruitment to ensure long-term cultural fit at all levels of the organization.
- A full-service Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their immediate family members.
- Recognition platforms like Wind Dollars and “Best of the Best” are designed to spotlight employees who embody the brand’s mission and values.
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The AHATA Impact Awards were established to recognize companies that make a meaningful contribution to the community and the workplace. Wind Creek Aruba’s win underscores its commitment to embedding compassion and purpose into every level of the employee experience.
