With ongoing site visits of parties involved in the event, decor preparations and logistics meetings, Rainforest Adventures Park has commenced preparations for the binational Grand Opening Ceremony of the St. Maarten / St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART), to be held on April 8th 2024.
The spectacular SMART 2024 Rainforest Adventures opening event will at this point welcome delegates from 110 companies deriving from 19 destinations. SMART is elated about the cooperation with Rainforest Adventures as the park provides visitors foreign and domestic a taste of St. Maarten / St. Martin experience, culture, hospitality and nature all at the same time.
Rainforest Adventures in turn will build on its successful “Elev8” and “Sunset at Rainforest Adventures” event formulas to make the business card event a unique experience to present the island and its culture. Amongst others, the event will involve the Emilio Wilson Museum and the parks landmark platform on the top of Sentry Hill, allowing a view to many islands in the Caribbean followed by a one of a kind sunset moment.
“Though the exact formula is kept a secret by all involved, Rainforest Adventures is convinced this event, and its cultural, natural and musical additions make April 8th a unique, never to forget experience for SMART visitors” says Rainforest Adventures General Manager Raul Gonzalez.
For the event, Rainforest Adventures closely cooperates with renowned “Emilio’s Restaurant” for great food provision as well as with SMART organizers the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), l`Office de Tourisme de St. Martin and the Club du Tourisme de St. Martin. Gonzalez: “It is amazing to see what many partners coming together from the public and private can achieve. This event will be a new and unique moment for guests, but for ourselves as Rainforest Adventures too”.
At this point, event visitors come from Anguilla, Antigua, Austria, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, Colombia, Curacao, Dominica, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Saba, St. Barths, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Spain and the United States of America.
With the event floorplan filling up rapidly, organizers especially invite “vendors” or local companies supplying or wanting to supply to the tourism industry to subscribe. Booths of this type are still available, and the event provides a unique opportunity for companies interested to meet the industry.
Within the buyers and suppliers category, the process of matchmaking has started last week via a digital application, with well over 500 15 minute business appointments having been made.
The 16th edition of SMART brings together tourism professionals from the region and beyond to discuss business opportunities with Northeastern Caribbean tourism companies, highlighting island experiences in the process via a renewed joint formula exploring both sides of the island.
Next to its partnership with Rainforest Adventures, SMART 2024 is grateful for support by Travel in Style Journeys, Flip.to, SST, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Princess Juliana International Airport, ShowMe Caribbean, CC1, Port St. Maarten, Winair and Flow.
Venue for this year’s edition of SMART is the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Convention Centre. All information and forms about the tradeshow can be found at SHTA.com/ SMART. For questions, do not hesitate to call the SHTA offices at +1-721-542-0108 or write info@shta.com.
