St. Maarten flag hoisted
from Westin highest point
DAWN BEACH--With construction in full swing, the five-star Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort, Spa and Residences is taking shape. The highest point in construction was marked with the hoisting of the St. Maarten flag on the third floor Tuesday afternoon.
Present to celebrate this milestone were Commissioners Sarah Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin, Theo Heyliger and Louie Laveist, other government officials, Columbia Sussex Vice President of Construction Tom Donovan and Peyton Cromwell of Re/Max Realty.
Marlin, who was instrumental in helping to jump-start the development of the area, commended the resort’s continued drive to recruit and train local people for resort positions. He was also impressed with the speed of the construction, for which local labour and contractors were used when possible.
The construction of the 310 hotel rooms and 99 three-bedroom residences is on track for opening in December, Donovan told the group during a tour of the site after the flag hoisting. Resort owner Columbia Sussex Corporation may construct 30 more two-bedroom units in the future. The residences are slated for completion in spring 2007.
The US $120 million property will encompass a combination of standard hotel rooms and separate residences with pool and Jacuzzi that will cater to all types of clients, as well as the broad spectrum required by the convention and incentive markets, Cromwell said.
There is already much interest in the residences, with several reservations already in the bag, Cromwell added. The interest in the residences stems from vacationers wanting the privacy of a home with the amenities of a resort at their fingertips.
Westin St. Maarten, when opened, will be the first residence resort property on the island.
This new five-star resort is being built on the site of the former Dawn Beach Hotel that was destroyed by Hurricane Luis in 1995.
St Maarten vacation rental
