The Westin St. Maarten Resort opens,
praised for
delivering on job creation
Eighty per cent of staff locals
DAWN BEACH--Job creation was the buzz at the official opening of The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa on Monday afternoon. With local workers representing eighty per cent of the resort staff, the Executive Council commended the resort for delivering on its promise of job creation for the island.
The resort, staffed by 275 people, has been operating since December 13 and had very busy Christmas and New Year’s weekends. Reservations are good for the coming months and there are already advance bookings for the 2007 Christmas season.
Resort General Manager Carlos Sanchez said that after all the hard work and long hours to get the resort up and running, it was “amazing” to look at guests enjoying the beach, the resort, Hibiscus Spa and other amenities. He thanked the Executive Council, especially Environmental Development and Property Management Commissioner Roy Marlin and Labour Commissioner Louie Laveist, for their support of the project.
The resort was officially opened by Marlin, who actively pursued the project, cutting the ribbon to the cheers of Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, Commissioners Sarah Wescot-Williams, Theo Heyliger, Franklin Meyers and Louie Laveist, and invited guests.
In spite of heavy criticism by environmental groups, property owners and other groups in the community, the five-star property has proven itself as a corporate citizen by taking care of the island’s people with the creation of needed jobs and a flagship to boost the economy, said Marlin, who had borne the brunt of the criticism.
He said the criticism, most of it unfounded, had been levied on the development since the announcement of the project. “It even went as far as claims that I accepted bribes to get the project going. But this simply shows that good things don’t come easily,” Marlin said.
Education and Finance Commissioner Wescot-Williams said The Westin fell in line with four policy directives of government: To get previously operating properties up and running again, to add more rooms to this island’s inventory, to attract more brand name properties, and to create employment.
The employment figures are encouraging, as they show that there are opportunities for the island’s young people. St. Maarten can start calling its youngsters back home to be part of the economic development, she said.
The partnership of The Westin and government has yielded results in all four areas, especially in the area of employment, as 40 per cent of the resort staff is age 18-29, she added.
Wescot-Williams disclosed that based on a preliminary study carried out in the local high schools, 50 per cent of students in the vocational stream would like to enter the job market on finishing school and the majority wants employment in the hospitality sector.
The addition of 310 rooms to the island’s inventory and marketing through the Westin network are welcomed, Economic Affairs and Tourism Commissioner Theo Heyliger said. “I am proud to see our people working in a resort of this size and calibre,” he added.
The resort was encouraged by Laveist to continue to hire St. Maarteners. The creation of jobs is important to the growth and prosperity of the economy, he said. “People must come first. The strength of the economy comes from the workers.”
Meyers said that never before had a project been greeted with more enthusiasm and criticism than The Westin St. Maarten. The resort has created needed and sustained employment for the island’s people despite all the criticism levelled at the project, he added. “It is time we stepped forward together as a people.”
The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa has 310 guest rooms and suites, a spa, gym, pools, casino and shops. The resort was built on property that had held the ruins of Dawn Beach Hotel that was destroyed by Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in 1995.
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