Divi Flamingo General Manager Bestowed Royal Honor

Sara Matera Recognized by Queen Beatrix for Her Volunteer Work on Bonaire

Chapel Hill, NC (May 21, 2008) - Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino's General Manager Sara Matera was bestowed the royal Order of Orange-Nassau by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for her devout volunteer work in continued education and youth projects on the Caribbean island of Bonaire. The Order of Orange-Nassau, a military and civil order of the Netherlands created in 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, was presented to Matera by Governor Hubert Domacasse of Bonaire in a pinning ceremony on April 25th, 2008.

Since 1990, Matera has been dedicated to the professional development of workers in the tourism and hospitality industries. Thanks to her efforts, Bonaire restaurant and hotel personnel and staff of all levels have achieved a higher echelon of training and managerial skills. Further, Matera organized an affiliation between Bonaire and the Nazareno culinary school in Italy's famed Emilio Romagna region making it possible for Bonairean students to do practical work abroad. Her fundraising efforts have made it possible for young Bonairean chefs to participate in such international culinary competitions as those held in San Juan, Curaçao and Miami. Matera is a longstanding member of the Bonaire Restaurants Association. She has been the General Manager of Divi Flamingo Beach since January 2006.

Matera's dedication to young people on Bonaire is further evidenced by her direct involvement in the "Breakfast in Schools" project of the Rotary Club, which ensures that over 250 local children in Bonaire receive a healthy and nutritious breakfast every school day.

"This royal honor is well-deserved by Sara," stated Anne Ens, director of marketing for Divi Resorts. "Her dedication to others crosses over into every area of her life. The warmth and caring she puts into her volunteer work is also on display at the resort. We are very lucky to have her at Divi Flamingo Beach."