The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) successfully hosted a dynamic and engaging Familiarization (FAM) trip for a group of 14 travel agents from the Dominican Republic along with representatives from Air Century. The initiative was designed to showcase the island’s diverse tourism offerings, strengthen regional partnerships, and expand St. Maarten’s visibility throughout the Dominican Republic market.
During the multi-day experience, these travel professionals enjoyed a full schedule of destination activities; including cultural immersion, culinary experiences, scenic island tours, hotel inspections and several key site visits across the island. The group explorations ranged from visits to local businesses, to beaches, restaurants, attractions, events and scenic sites which allowed them to gain a comprehensive understanding of St. Maarten’s appeal as both an adventure-filled and tranquility-rich paradise.
The impact of the visit was immediate. Travel agents began promoting St. Maarten on their business platforms and personal social media while still on island, leading to same-week bookings for upcoming travel. Several participants even expressed that the island offered such peace that they could also envision investments on the island.
"We are thrilled about the success of this FAM trip and the enthusiasm shown by our partners from the Dominican Republic and Air Century,” said Jacqueline Louis, STB's Caribbean Agent. “Their engagement and early bookings reaffirm the growing demand for St. Maarten, as well as the value of firsthand destination immersion.”
A special acknowledgement was extended to Oyster Bay Beach Resort, which served as the gracious host hotel. Their warm hospitality and exceptional service provided the perfect setting for guests to experience St. Maarten’s signature friendliness.
Gina Illidge, Caribbean Marketing Officer at STB, emphasized the importance of strengthening regional tourism ties: The Dominican Republic is a key regional market with strong potential for growth. This FAM trip created not just awareness, but emotional connection, allowing travel professionals to truly understand and sell St. Maarten with confidence and enthusiasm."
Air Century representatives also shared heartfelt praise for the experience:
"St. Maarten Tourism Bureau is truly the best host that we could have asked for. We deeply appreciate everything you did to ensure the success of this FAM trip, which was well orchestrated from beginning to the end. The agents who visited St. Maarten have now become proud ambassadors of the Friendly Island, and their positive impressions are already spreading far and wide. Thank you for your commitment, your passion, your energy, your time, and the joy you brought to this experience. You made all the difference for us," shared José Arcila, Air Century Sales Manager
The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau looks forward to building on this momentum as they continue working with Air Century and travel professionals across the Dominican Republic to enhance regional connectivity and promote St. Maarten as a premier Caribbean destination.