The general assembly of the AHSM association was held last Tuesday, the opportunity to elect a new office but also to present the objectives for 2019.
Mr Patrice Seguin of the Beach Hotel remains the president of the association, Mr Jean-François Billot of the Grand Case Beach Club holds the position of 1st vice-president, Mrs Eléonore Astier-Pétin de la Samanna is elected as 2nd vice-president , Mr Franck Guillot-Tournus de la Playa becomes treasurer while Mr Baki Arbia from Mercure retains his post as secretary.
The AHSM (Association of Saint-Martin Hoteliers) continues to professionalize, after the recruitment of Ms. Patricia Ughetto-Monfrin as an administrative assistant, it is the turn of Ms. Véronique Legris to join the association as project manager and director of operations. Ms. Legris has established an action plan for the pivotal year that will be 2019.
This plan aims to develop the tourist assets of Saint-Martin and focuses on 5 strategic points:
Training: to compensate for the lack of qualified personnel, to involve the young people of Saint-Martin in the hotel trade, so that the "Saint-Martin product" goes upmarket with personnel capable of offering impeccable service, the AHSM , based on the needs of hotels in terms of staff, offered specific training which will start with the Pole-Emploi agency later this year.
Promotion: promote the destination in collaboration with the tourist office, enhance the positioning of Saint Martin on the internet, renovate promotion and communication actions, modernize marketing campaigns.
The Tourism Club: creation of a club bringing together all the players in the tourism sector to collaborate, exchange and contribute to the development of businesses in the tourism industry.
Tourist economic development: fiscal, social and legal support for socio-professionals to help the development of their activities, collaboration with the State and the Collectivity to promote economic development and attract investors.
Cooperation with the Dutch side: collaboration with the SHTA (Sint Maarten Hospitality Tourism Association) for a synergistic promotion of the island.
Regarding the available accommodation (hotels, guest-houses, residences) for December 2018, the island had 562 rooms. 448 additional provisional rooms should increase availability in 2019. The occupancy rate for the previous quarter varied between 50 to 60%, noting that most establishments are not reopened to 100% of their capacity; 70% of the clientele is North American, most of whom are repeat tourists.
In 2019, several hotels will complete the availability of their rooms, such as the Esmeralda Resort in Orient Bay which will add 18 rooms to its current capacity of 47 rooms, the Mercure Hotel sur Baie Nettlé will add 53 rooms to its 125 available, the Grand Case Beach Club will add 25 additional rooms to its 48 already functional, La Playa de la Baie Orientale will offer 28 rooms in March and 28 additional rooms during the year; while some hotel complexes currently under construction plan to reopen during the year, this is the case of the Riu in Anse Marcel which will become the Secret Resort with 200 rooms and will open its doors in December 2019, the Marquis hotel in 18 rooms also located at Anse Marcel will open in February 2019, with regard to the Beach Hotel, work should start during the first half of 1 for a reopening scheduled for October 2019.
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