PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau hosted its first annual "Blue Jean & Flip Flop Marketing Summit" May 13-15 at the Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort as part of an expanded SMART week program to provide a more comprehensive marketing plan for all tourism stakeholders.The Marketing Summit has been so named because it is designed to be a Caribbean-themed "power meeting" between all tourism and hospitality stakeholders on island plus tour operator and airline partners and the Tourist Bureau's off-shore marketing agencies.
This first-ever pre-SMART event brought together hotels, restaurants, shops, airport and cruise port officials, local attractions, ground operators and taxi operators to discuss how everyone can work together for the same goal of expanding arrivals and visitor spending on St. Maarten.
This marketing event began with a Networking Reception on Sunday evening May 13 followed by an all-day seminar on Monday May 14 with discussions between all stakeholders and partners and the goal of creation of a Tourism Outlook White Paper at the conclusion of the meetings.
"The objective of the seminar and discussion group is to find ways in which we can work together, not just to promote tourism to the destination, but to support revenue growth for all stakeholders that want to participate," said May-Ling Chun, Director of Tourism.
The most important segment of this Marketing Summit took place on Monday May 14 with a participation working session facilitated by Billy Taylor, former star running back with the New York Giants. Mr. Taylor, now a well traveled motivational speaker has worked with resorts and governments in the Caribbean for nearly 20 years. He set the stage for a working plan to be developed by participants that will lead to actionable items for the Tourist Bureau marketing agencies to implement.
The third and final day of this event was devoted to the collective thoughts and plans of the Tourist Bureau's off-shore agencies who are being be tasked with coming up with solutions and implementing the programs and plans that St. Maarten stakeholders and participants, ask for during day-one meetings and discussions.
The Tourist Bureau and the Marketing Agencies met to discuss creation of a final Plan of Action with specific responsibilities and timelines that can be implemented for the destination.
"It was important to have the diverse private sector interests participate and for the Tourist Bureau and the various public relations and advertising agencies from around the world listen to these private sector messages about what is needed to improve business," said Richard S. Kahn, president of KTCpr, the agency which planned the event for the Tourist Bureau.
A report is being prepared and the outcome will be shared as a Tourism White Paper with all stakeholders.
