Executive Director of St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) Valya Pantophlet said organisers were very happy with the number of suppliers (42) they had managed to secure, despite a challenging year for funding. The Tourist Bureaus of Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin had to make budget cuts this year and, as such, the funding for SMART was assured very late.
"Despite our late start, we did very well this year with suppliers and buyers. We had big plans for this year. We weren't expecting the challenges; we didn't go all out for the opening. We had to cut back on the actual tradeshow, but we are happy," Pantophlet said.
She was joined at the opening by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Minister Theo Heyliger, St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Head Regina Labega, SMART 2011 Coordinator Evencia Seabrookes, representatives of the French side, St. Maarten's overseas marketing representatives and several other invited guests.
SMART is a conference that provides the venue for international buyers to network and negotiate future business opportunities with suppliers in the tourism industry. The most important travel industry partners and wholesale travel agents have been invited to the conference, where they can meet our hotel and excursions operators on a one-on-one basis, in order to conduct business in preparation for winter and beyond.
SMART is presented by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, L'Office du Tourisme de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association and L'Association des Hoteliers de St. Martin.
It continues today with the buyer-to-supplier session and wraps up on Friday with three workshops focusing on Internet marketing.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/17172-smart-kicks-off.html
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