Small hotels want
more eco-tourism
PHILIPSBURG--While some small and large hotels are incorporating green or environmentally-friendly practices in their operations, more properties need to get on board, according to members of St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) Small Hotels Division.
In a recent meeting, members discussed their views on eco-tourism practices and projects that are outlined on Websites such as
www.greensuites.com . Green practices are important especially because the island does not have a proper waste disposal system and caring for the environment should be everyone’s business, the members said.
Also discussed was the division’s marketing plan for 2008, which includes updating its Website
www.smallhotelssxm.com , and redesigning and reprinting its brochure. A fixed contribution from members to be used for marketing, participation in regional tradeshows, advertisements in various in-flight magazines and other projects were also on the agenda.
Present at the pre-season planning meeting, held in the SHTA office on W.J.A. Nisbeth Road, were Turquoise Shell Inn owner/manager and Small Hotels Division Head Carter Glass, Patricia Rogers of L’Esperance Hotel, Nadia Gumbs of Joshua Rose Guesthouse, Princess Heights Marketing Manager Veronique van der Stek, and Mary’s Boon owner Raul Maxbrown and Food and Beverage Manager Matthew Sadler.
The Small Hotels Division was established two years ago with the goal of increasing cooperation among the island’s small properties that have 50 or fewer rooms. It encourages properties to learn from each other and from the larger hotels.
Some of the division’s accomplishments include a tour of member properties, attending annual regional tradeshows as a group, and publishing the Small Hotels Division brochure that is distributed, with the assistance of St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, at the airport and harbour, as well as at regional and U.S. tradeshows.
The Small Hotels Division has also launched its Website and has advertised in Caribbean Beat magazine and various in-flight magazines.
Monthly meetings will continue throughout the season as plans for a brochure reprinting continue. For more information on the Small Hotels division or to become a member, contact the SHTA office at 542-0108 or e-mail
info@shta.com .
