10 September 2009

Tax incentives in St. Maarten luring meeting-goers

A major reason for St. Maarten’s popularity with meeting groups is a tax initiative that now allows US companies to receive the same tax benefits they receive in the greater US, according to the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau.

Meeting planners can choose from a variety of properties including The Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino which offers more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space accommodating up to 1,000 people.

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino offers a more intimate setting for smaller meetings with more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space.

With seven meeting spaces geared for larger meetings and conferences, The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa can host up to 1,000 people in their 10,000 square feet of banquet and meeting spaces.

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort located eight miles from Princess Juliana International Airport can accommodate smaller gatherings of up to 36 people. Divi Little Bay Beach Resort offers those booking the event a free room when booking 20 rooms in high season, or 15 rooms in low season.

St. Maarten’s is unusual in that it is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations, the Netherlands and France, creating a European-influenced atmosphere with a Caribbean flair.

It is also known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean with an eclectic array of elegantly-perfected culinary fusion that keeps "food lovers" returning each year. And wit offers more than 300 restaurants.

By David Wilkening