PHILIPSBURG:--- Sports Tourism Council Sint Maarten Foundation (STC Sint Maarten) Executive Board member Reggie Plaisir met with Harris County Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) Chief Executive Officer Janis Schmees Burke to discuss sports development and sports tourism opportunities for country Sint Maarten.
A follow-up meeting is planned for late November to discuss further details such as a Sister Sister Partnership.
The Harris County Houston Sports Authority manages the debt financing of two billion dollars for all major sports facilities in the City of Houston.
Plaisir stated that country Sint Maarten's sports development could benefit greatly with the vast experience that the sports authority has gained.
The HCHSA, the Sports Authority, is a political subdivision of the City, the County and the State of Texas, created for the purposes set forth in the Concurrent Order and the Act, including planning, acquiring, establishing, developing, constructing or renovating of one or more sports and community venue projects and related infrastructure.
The Sports Authority completed its initial project on Opening Day for the downtown baseball ballpark (Minute Maid Park) on March 30, 2000, on time and under budget.
The Sports Authority began its second project with the groundbreaking for the new Reliant Stadium in March 2000, and the stadium was officially opened on August 24, 2002.
The Sports Tourism Council Sint Maarten Foundation has as its primary goal to develop Sports Tourism as a niche market for the destination. The new entity is structured to attract annual sports events to the island and to stimulate economic development.
STC representatives will be attending a number of sessions at the four-day conference and expo that will fully prepare them for the promotion of the destination as a sports tourism destination. Some of the sessions will delve into Economic Impact Analysis; Event Safety, Security and Integrity; Social Media, Mobile and Your Events; Advancing Integrity in Sports; and the Business of Sports.
STC Sint Maarten seeks to develop triathlon event, marathon, cycling tour, youth basketball tournaments, softball tournaments, indoor slot model car racing, a kickboxing event, celebrity games, cricket tournaments, baseball tournaments, soccer tournament and other sports related events.
For those requiring additional information about the Sport Tourism Council, you can call 522-2828 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.