~ Registrations continue to grow ~
St. Maarten Tourist Bureau is again sponsoring the registration for local small hotels to attend the 2012 St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART).
Several small hotels are already among the ranks of more than 44 hotels, activities and other local and regional tourism and hospitality businesses signed up for tradeshow set for May 16-18 at Radisson Blu Resort, Marina and Spa.
More local and regional businesses are urged "to be smart and register for SMART" by St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Director May-Ling Chun. The tourist bureau is one of the four partners of the tradeshow.
"We have over 23 buyers from companies in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. This will add to the exposure especially for the small hotels," Chun said. "We are very optimistic about SMART and hope more companies get involved."
Tradeshow "buyers" are large or niche tour operators who develop and sell holiday packages or rooms.
The tourist bureau’s Product Development Team, in a new twist to the tradeshow, has been registered as a "buyer."
"Being a registered buyer at SMART will give the team an opportunity to talk with the hotels, resorts and activities representatives to get a feel for how they do business and what they have to offer. That information will help us better our destination’s product," Chun said.
The tourist bureau will also host a two-day marketing summit outside of SMART for all of its regional and international offices. The summit aims to recharge the destination’s representatives with new information and strategies for marketing and promotion in preparation for the 2012/2013 high season.
SMART is an annually collaboration of St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, L’Office du Tourisme de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) and L’Association des Hoteliers de St. Martin. It brings together destination representatives from throughout primarily, but not limited to the North Eastern Caribbean, hoteliers and activities directors with vacation wholesalers and airline representatives.
Online registration for SMART is in effect. New applicants can obtain a username and password from SHTA office by emailing sm***@sh**.com. For more information also visit: http://www.shta.com/smart.