St. Maarten showcased to media,
travel agents in New York
PHILIPSBURG/NEW YORK--Valuable promotion for St. Maarten was drummed up at a recent sales and promotion event hosted by American Airlines in the New York Tri-State area and attended by delegations from St. Maarten, Anguilla and Saba.
The island’s double gold medal winning culinary team added flavour to the event attended by some 450 travel agents, wholesalers and media personnel with delicacies that portrayed the character and versatility of St. Maarten’s culinary offerings.
Speaking about the promotion at a press conference Wednesday, American Airlines Country Manager Michael Cleaver said teaming up to market St. Maarten and the neighbouring islands was very important to the airline and the destinations.
Event attendees were surprised to learn about the new development on St. Maarten such as the new airport terminal building, beautified Front Street and the bustling Dr. A.C. Cruise and Cargo Facilities. Cleaver said, “It’s good to go out there and touch the flesh (of the people) so to speak.”
He commended Saba Commissioner Will Johnson for highlighting his island is an interesting way. At the reception, Johnson was also a very interesting person for the travel agents to talk to.
Head of St. Maarten Tourism Bureau Regina LaBega described the event as a huge success. The promotion event also helped to alert people in the industry about the island and to generate publicity that the island would not have otherwise been able to pay for, she added.
St. Maarten will be featured in an upcoming edition of Islands magazine, a publication the island would not have been able to purchase advertising space because of its very limited marketing funds.
The Dutch and French sides participated actively in the promotions and sales event as well as their joint marketing firm in the United States. “It was a total destination wide promotion,” LaBega said.
St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) President Emil Lee said the event allowed for promotion of the new and existing hotels and resorts. He said events such as this AA promotion were very necessary, but added that there needed to be a more sustained and funded basis.
St Maarten vacation rental
