Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts announces Reopening Dates
May 22, 2018
SONESTA ST. MAARTEN RESORTS ANNOUNCES THE MUCH ANTICIPATED WINTER 2018/19 REOPENING DATES FOR SONESTA MAHO BEACH RESORT, CASINO & SPA AND SONESTA OCEAN POINT RESORT FOLLOWING HURRICANE IRMA
A Comprehensive Renovation will Revive and Improve the Resorts including Maho Village and Casino Royale
ST. MAARTEN (MAY 21, 2018) – Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts is grateful for the enduring support from its clients, partners and guests over the past year following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. Now, both the limitless, all-inclusive, adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort and the family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa are primed for a complete renovation and will come back “Stronger and Brand New” with projected opening dates November 15, 2018 and February 1, 2019, respectively.
Loyal guests will be reassured that the resorts’ signature limitless, all-inclusive concepts will remain the same, as will favorite services, amenities and familiar faces of our beloved staff, with a number of exciting new features to debut. Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts has taken every measure to implement the latest architectural innovations and storm resistant materials in the renovation, ensuring the future security and well being of its properties and guests.
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa will come back stronger and brand new, keeping its family-friendly charms, amazing array of restaurants and bars, Kids Club and Teen Zone, fun daily activities and personalized services. The resort’s Sky Tower sustained the most damage and the renovation required that the building be stripped to its main structural frame that was fortunately spared by the storm. The reconstruction project will entirely overhaul the building instating a comprehensive architectural and interior redesign but most importantly, will install TCK and LVKE building technology with storm resistant building envelope that can withstand sustained winds in excess of 200mph winds (Irma had sustained winds of 165mph) and severe earthquakes. TCK and LVKE is a China-based, green technology consortium and its revolutionary building panels will also significantly enhance thermal insulation and energy efficiency, reducing the carbon footprint of the resort, as well as improve fire resistance making the building safer. Groupe Nox Engineering and Studio Trebbi Engineering completely re-designed the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems of the resort. The new Sky Tower will be compliant with all the latest safety and environmental standards.
Design + Positif is responsible for the overall architectural and interior redesign of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Galo Rosas, principal and Senior Architect, is spearheading the project. The resort will be updated with a new look reflecting a contemporary, clean and airy aesthetic throughout the public spaces, restaurants and guestrooms, while maintaining a fun, friendly and approachable Caribbean vibe that the resort is known for.
Sonesta Ocean Point Resort fortunately sustained somewhat less damage, with the structure, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems remaining in good condition, as the property recently underwent a 2015 gut renovation. Repairs are being made to damaged areas with improvements implemented to increase storm resistance of the building’s exterior envelope. The Ocean Point lobby will be entirely redesigned and given an updated contemporary style, while the new Casa Blue, a Spanish-style tapas restaurant, will debut on the rooftop terrace above Azul restaurant.
The Convention Center, including the Royal Pavilion, will be completely rebuilt and redesigned by Design + Positif, updating all its 24,000 square-feet of eco-friendly meeting and conference facilities accommodating up to 700 guests, keeping with the new contemporary décor of the adjacent resorts.
Maho Village, the shopping and nightlife promenade located just steps outside the resorts, along withCasino Royale, the largest gaming emporium on St. Maarten, are undergoing a massive transformation as well, and are set to re-open this summer with a modern new look. Casino Royale will continue to offer over 21,000 square-feet of gaming and entertainment with the biggest theater in the region, and will debut two new alfresco restaurants and a new outdoor bar and lounge overlooking the main street of Maho Village.
Understanding the hardship faced by many of its hospitality employees post Hurricane Irma, The Maho Group, owners and operators of Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts, along with other concerned industry parties, launched Hospitality First, a St. Maarten Training Foundation (SMTF) academic initiative. The program helps ensure the well being of staff and employees making it possible for them to maintain a livelihood after the storm as well as improve their skills and knowledge in hospitality while resorts are closed and now being renovated. All employees of The Maho Group remained employed following Hurricane Irma, and no staff was terminated. With Hospitality First, Maho employees receive an attendance allowance while taking the courses; keep their jobs, seniority, and benefits including medical insurance and will be reinstated in their positions when the resorts reopen. As SMTF caters not only to Maho Group employees but to employees of the hospitality and tourism industry in general, other individuals who are unemployed in the hospitality sector receive a stipend while attending classes. SMTF announced that it received a grant of approximately $4.5 million from the Governments of Holland and St. Maarten. It is anticipated that additional funding will come from a trust fund administered by the World Bank for €470 million which was set up by the Government of The Netherlands to assist with the reconstruction and recovery of the island.
Starting June 1 – September 30, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa will offer an attractive pre-opening 45% discount promotion that will be available to book online at www.sonesta.com/stmaarten or by calling 1-800-SONESTA (223-0757) with promo code: PREOPENING. Sonesta Maho Resort rates start at $132 per person and Sonesta Ocean Point rates start at $229 per person. Rates are all-inclusive and based on double occupancy. Selected travel partners and agents will also have access to this promotion and for group reservations email: sales@sonestastmaarten.
All Gift Certificates with an expiration date from September 6, 2017 onwards will be honored and their validity automatically extended for six months from the reopening date, subject to availability and blackout dates. Gift certificates must be redeemed at the original property and cannot be transferred to another Sonesta Resort. Gift Certificate reservations can only be made by calling 1-800-SONESTA, and guest must provide a certificate number, verified expiration date, and the reservation name must match the name of the traveler.
Great Bay Beach Resort, formerly Sonesta, was bought by the Sunwing Group last year. The group will make its own announcements when available.
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Re-opening February 1, 2019 as the brand new, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa is the largest, limitless, all-Inclusive family-friendly resort in St. Maarten offering an exhilarating and fun vacation experience combined with stellar customer service. With limitless all-inclusive meals, drinks, Kids Club, Teen Zone and scheduled activity programs for all ages, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa is a destination within a destination, offering the island’s most exciting nightlife, a variety of accommodations and first-rate amenities for singles, couples, families and groups. The 10-acre, 416-room beachfront property is conveniently located on St. Maarten’s southwest shore just minutes from the airport and features the oversized signature Oasis pool area with swim-up bar and separate kids pool with mini aqua park; five restaurants and a pizzeria; five bars; fitness center; sports courts; oceanfront wedding gazebo; and more than 24,000 square-feet of meeting space and unique outdoor venues. Guest can enjoy other amenities including the signature Serenity Spa and the destination’s largest gaming emporium Casino Royale as well as access to tours, car rental and motorized water sports for an additional fee.
Reopening November 15, 2018, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort embraces a contemporary Caribbean style, offering an adults-only, limitless all-inclusive vacation experience, while bringing style, luxury and outstanding service to St. Maarten. Set in the most spectacular location with breathtaking views over Maho Bay, adjacent to Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, the 129 all-suite ultra-luxurious yet sustainable “resort within a resort” sits on the westernmost point of the island and features three exclusive pools including the Edge pool with a zero entry cliff side beach, four bars and two restaurants including the signature Azul restaurant and other resort amenities such as 24-hour room service, state-of-the-art fitness center, an open-air wellness area and private cabanas. Amenities are complemented by exemplary service from personalized concierges and Butler service in the top 25 suite categories for extra comfort and next level luxury, all culminating in one of the most uniquely designed resorts in St. Maarten and the entire Caribbean. Apart from the exclusive amenities at Sonesta Ocean Point, guest have full access to all services and facilities at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa with five additional restaurants and bars, Serenity Spa with sauna and steam room, tour desk, sports courts, Casino Royale and more than 24,000 square-feet of brand new meeting and conference facilities.
