Government to collect tax from guests booking via AirBnB

“No additional laws are required to collect taxes related to Airbnb, those taxes can be collected under the current tax system,” said Finance Minister Ardwell Irion during the 2023 budget debate in Parliament, last week. New on the budget is projected income from tax on Airbnb stay to the tune of NAf 5 million. There are an estimated 440 units More...

Dutch side taxi associations join forces to clean up popular tour sites
PHILIPSBURG — On Saturday, September 11th, 2021, a group of taxi drivers representing the Dutch St. Maarten Taxi Association, Airport Taxi Association and Down Town Taxi Association came out to help clean More...

Minister Ottley: Nightlife set to scale back to 11pm
PHILIPSBURG — The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Omar Ottley held a meeting with club nightlife business owners, beach bar owners, directors and managers from Dutch Sint Maarten. The More...

Supreme Court sends Alegria/TOCA timeshare case back to the Court of Appeals for a new ruling
PHILIPSBURG – The Supreme Court of the Netherlands ruled on Friday that Alegria Real Estate does not have to honor the rights of timeshare-owners at the former Caravanserai Beach Resort. The timeshare-owners, More...

New York Times foresees “months of duress and uncertainty”
Photo caption: Holland House Beach Hotel also completely shutdown as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. PHILIPSBURG – Most of the 51 units at the Princess Heights Boutique Condo Hotel in Oyster Pond are empty these More...

SHTA Calls for Immediate Revocation of New Permit Policy
PHILIPBURG — The Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) calls for an immediate revocation of the new “Policy on issuance of Labor Permits“, as was published last Friday February 7th More...

Freegan Food Foundation and St. Maarten Training Foundation students cook 100 meals for Thanksgiving
“I’ve never cooked for 100 people, so this is a great experience for me,” says Sharon Jones, a culinary student at the St. Maarten Training Foundation (SMTF). Sharon along with 70 classmates helped to provide More...

Last Voting Day Crystal Pineapple Awards commences
MAHO — Thursday, November 21st, 2019 is the last chance to cast your votes for the 11 voting categories for the 12th Crystal Pineapple Awards (CPA), to be held this Saturday 23 rd 2019 at the Sonesta Maho More...

Minister Lee: Job seekers be ready for jobs in the hospitality sector
PHILIPSBURG — Minister of VSA Emil Lee attended the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino job fair on Friday March 8th at the Belair Community Center. The resort is re-opening in phases and is eager to recruit More...

Alicia’s Inn and Baker’s Suites become Hospitality Assured
POND ISLAND, Sint Maarten – Two local businesses that were part of a pilot Hospitality Assured (HA) program sponsored by the European Union’s Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) program More...