Visitstmaarten.com Blog

Kenneth Jones of Hempstead, New York, thought he was just another cruise ship passenger and was just looking forward to a day at the beach surrounded by some 25 members of his family when he disembarked Carnival Victory on Saturday, but had the shock of his life when he was randomly selected as the island’s symbolic millionth passenger.

Jones, approached by St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies CEO Mark Mingo and COO Keith Franca on Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Pier, first thought it was some marketing gimmick to persuade him to buy some time or take a tour. Mingo assured Jones, who was surrounded by some of his family members who were about to take an island tour with a stop on Orient Beach, that the millionth passenger selection was legitimate. The prize for this honour was a round trip to St. Maarten and a week’s stay in a hotel for Jones and three family members.

The immediately usable part of the prize was an island tour and lunch. Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association President Otis Hughes was on hand for the presentation and ensured that the family received the best island ambassadors for their tour. The harbour took care of cost of the island tour and lunch for 14 of the 25 family members who had originally planned to participate in these activities.

Mingo also pointed out that the passenger coming off a Carnival ship was also a reason to be happy. Carnival Corporation is a main partner in the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities expansion that included the addition of the mega-cruise ship pier designed for new 220,000-tonne cruise ships.

Providing a week-long round trip and stay in St. Maarten is also strategic. Mingo said there had been talk about trying to convert cruise passengers into stay-over visitors, so this would help.  This is the first time the millionth-passenger mark has been reached in August. St. Maarten has been playing host to a million and more passengers for nine years now.

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As the world comes together to celebrate 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that the World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrations, hosted officially this year by China, will take place under the theme Tourism and Biodiversity (27 September, Guangdong Province).

The theme provides a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity to tourism and the role of sustainable tourism in the conservation of life on Earth.

The UNWTO said biodiversity is a key tourism asset and fundamental to its sustained growth. “Intact and healthy ecosystems form the cornerstone of thousands of tourist enterprises and products worldwide, attracting hundreds of millions of tourists each year.

The theme Tourism and Biodiversity is particularly pertinent in 2010. Concerned by the continued loss of biological diversity, the United Nations Assembly declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. The year coincides with the target adopted by governments in 2002 to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

Central WTD celebrations will take place in Guangdong Province, China. Alongside a series of cultural events organized by the Chinese Government, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) will host the 2010 World Tourism Day Think Tank around this year’s theme.

The Think Tank will bring together leading public and private tourism stakeholders, as well as biodiversity experts and members of the media, to highlight the close relationship between tourism and biodiversity, and identify how tourism can contribute to preserving life on Earth and its unique biodiversity.

“Excerpts from this article taken from the Daily Herald”

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St. Maarten will be represented at this year’s HISWA at water, Europe’s largest open air boat show.  St. Maarten’s Tourist Bureau in the Netherlands will be the first and only tourist office at this major event.

This year the boat show will take place at the Marina Seaport in IJmuiden from August 31st to September 5th. During his fair with sailing boats, yachts, cutters and related maritime basics, St. Maarten will present itself as the nautical destination in the Caribbean.” In a press release issued by St. Maarten’s Tourist Bureau, St. Maarten was called “the epic centre for the water sports tourist in the region.”

The release mentioned the annual Heineken Regatta, the largest regatta in the Caribbean. To attract more visitors and get the focus on St. Maarten, St. Maarten Tourist Bureau has made available a prize: HISWA at water 2010 visitors who book their ticket online have a chance at winning an all-inclusive, nine-day trip to St. Maarten.

The prize, which will be raffled among those who give the correct answer to the question posed, includes seven nights on board of the two-master schooner Kairós. At the fair, St. Maarten Tourist Bureau will undoubtedly promote its new, rebranded slogan “Aangenaam St.Maarten.

“ Article taken from The Daily Herald”

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As part of its 25th anniversary, Motiance Dance School presents a musical evening of theatre, dance, drama and song – a show worth supporting and not to be missed.

During the long summer school break, Motiance Dance School held workshops for those who love dance and theatre.

St. Maarten students were very fortunate to have trained with dance and theatre groups from The USA and the Netherlands. During the first three week session, students trained with dancers from the Creative Outlet Dance Theater of Brooklyn.

The students – ranging from children ages 3 to 12; youth ages 12 to 15; and the adult group – will bring fun and exciting dance, drama, song and movement to the stage, delighting the audience with the high standard learnt from their teachers.

Some of the numbers the adults and youth group will be performing will be taken from Mama Mia, Rent and Chicago. The audience is advised that after the intermission, in the second half of the show some of the numbers contain explicit language. Parental discretion advised.

The show will be staged at the Philipsburg cultural and community centre on Saturday, August 14, at 7:00pm sharp. Admission is US$15. Tickets are available at Van Dorp, Miguel’s Salon, Belair Health and Fitness Centre, Family Dental Clinic and Motiance Dance School.

“Excerpts from this article taken from the Daily Herald”

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The Caribbean Cinemas Megaplex is currently showing a new commercial entitled “Life is a Journey” by insurance company Ennia, a filmed succession of high quality local shots that illustrate a life journey.

According to Ennia, the film is not a loud cry that sings the praises of a certain product but an alluring movie that portrays the authenticity of life on St. Maarten, Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire.
“Actually we kept the film very simple and we let the pictures speak for themselves with an Ennia proposal at the end,” said Patrick Thissen, Marketing Manager for Ennia.

“This commercial is about the emotional brand value of Ennia. By presenting a universally identifiable sentiment, we charge the Ennia brand.

“What it’s about is that when a person chooses an Ennia product, they also experience a certain feeling with it. The film is produced in such a way that each picture is a stage in life, and for all those stages Ennia offers assurance. We now use these pictures in our house style such as our advertising and website,” he said.

The pictures can also be seen in the Ennia building on W.J.A. Nisbeth Road. We are very proud of the end result. The development has taken a long time because we set high standards to the concept and execution. The commercial has been produced locally in its entirety with local extras.

“Excerpts taken from the Daily Herald”

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St. Maarten Nature Foundation was able to capture another Lionfish with the assistance of Michael of Seatrek. Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets said the action plan being executed for the capturing of these poisonous fish appeared to be working. He said the foundation had the full cooperation of the local dive shops and there were no new reports of sighting for the moment, but more were expected.

Moreover, Bervoets noted that while Lionfish were venomous, they were edible once prepared following a recipe. The foundation has been introducing the fish and its recipe to various local restaurants to add to their menus. The foundation is encouraging fishermen and other individuals who come cross Lionfish to follow suit and contribute them to restaurants. The Lionfish poses a threat because other species in the Caribbean do not recognize it as a predator, so it eats out juvenile fish.

“Excerpts from this article taken from the Daily Herald”

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t. Maarten Pride Foundation and local coordinator of the International Coastal Cleanup Jadira Veen presented the 2010 International Coastal Cleanup report to Acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt this week.

The report “Trash Travels”: from our hands to the sea, around the globe and through time” highlights” the trash data collected every year in September. The report is a comprehensive data report on each category of trash collected. It can be used by governments to introduce anti-litter programmes and sensitising the population on recycling.

This year, the International Coastal Cleanup will celebrate its 25th anniversary and in commemoration the worldwide coastal cleanup will take place on September 25.

Hundreds of local volunteers are expected to descend on Mullet Bay Beach on September 25, from 7:00 to 10:00am as part of the cleanup on St. Maarten. Underwater cleanups will be carried out with the dive industry under the guidance of Manager of Nature Foundation Tadzio Bervoets.  Half a million volunteers in 108 countries including St. Maarten picked up trash from the world’s coastal waterways and below the ocean surface in 2009.

The International Coastal Cleanup has volunteers from youth groups, service clubs, schools, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), government agencies, animal and environmental activists and concerned citizens.

“Article taken from the Daily Herald”

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Penha St. Maarten is currently the largest authorized fragrance and cosmetics retailer on the Dutch side of the island.  Penha’s Management in St. Maarten decided from a strategic position to create its main entrance on the Boardwalk/Beach front side. The location has developed to become a small, cozy and attractive area for duty free shopping. Penha St. Maarten also has a location at the Princess Juliana International Airport, for the exclusive operation of the Fragrance and Cosmetic units in the Departure Hall of the New Terminal building.

Visit them at their two locations on Front Street in Philipsburg and at the Princess Juliana Airport.

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Annually, Kimberly-Clark Health Care rewards their top sales professionals with an all inclusive paid vacation for the sales person and his/her spouse or guest.  The trip is called Club One.  This year they decided to add an element of ‘giving back’ to the community or area where the sales person(s) are visiting.  The project is called “Club One Cares”.  It’s their way of keeping focus on the need to contribute to the communities in which we live, work, and visit.

While they were on the St. Maarten, they refurbished the Little League stadium including painting the bleachers and dugouts; constructed a PVC pipe fence; replaced some lights; and a few other minor improvements.  It was a great opportunity for them to work together and accomplish something to benefit others.

They chose the St. Maarten Little League Association because it is simply a wonderful organization that has served the community over many years.  They wanted to find an organization that touched the many people throughout St. Maarten.  By working with the Little League Association – they are doing just that.

Second, they needed and wanted to find a project that would allow them to work together at one time.  They are concentrating over 500 man hours of volunteer labor during this one project! The site is very accessible, and is conducive to having over 100 painters moving around at once.  The sponsors for this community project are: Sherwin-Williams, Clean St. Maarten, Red Cross, and Rene Florijn Catering services.

Kimberly –Clark was brought here by JNR INCORPORATED. “We are proud to be a part of the team that organized this effort.  All you need to do is stand back and watch the single-minded determination of all 110 Club One winners and guests to paint not only the entire grandstand but every structure on the property to understand the passion that KC brought to the Little League project.”

JNR INC. chose Caribbean concierge Services (CCS)  the local Destination Management Company, to host the group, and coordinate this wonderful community project. “We are proud to be part of this event. This shows that fortune 500 companies coming to the island for incentive trips are not only interested in spending on fun activities, but also community projects” says Caribbean Concierge Services.

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Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) in St. Maarten is the third largest airport in the Caribbean, according to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association ALTA. ALTA released its updated 2010 Latin America and Caribbean Capacity Analysis on Monday and has PJIA as third largest airport, behind only San Juan Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin International Airport), and Nassau,

Bahamas (Lynden Pindling International Airport). In terms of total departing flights, San Juan moved 62,843, Nassau 28,317 and St. Maarten 25,038 in 2009. Trinidad and Tobago, the US Virgin Islands, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St. Barths round off the top 10 in order from 4 to 10.

The ALTA report is a comprehensive compendium of the region’s air transport statistics, including a ranking of the most important airports and city pairs in the region in terms of volume and growth.
This year’s results highlight the region’s growth despite being faced with challenges due to the world crisis.

In terms of international flights, St. Maarten ranks second.  St. Maarten also ranks sixth in domestic flights in the Caribbean with 4,567 in 2009. When looking at Latin America and the Caribbean together, St. Maarten ranks eighth in departing international flights.

Excerpts from this article taken from the Daily Herald – July 27th, 2010

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