TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Planet Hollywood to begin construction soon

Daily Herald story

In addition, Sunwing will commence additional flights to SXM once it is completed.

How unfortunate for Philipsburg. All the more reason to be on the french side.

Really? No care in the world that this will bring jobs, visitors and $ to our devastated economy? Are you flying in to Grand Case too?

This should be great for the local economy. Especially for the had hit businesses in Phillipsburg and the island as a whole.

What are you talking about and what are your true feelings for the Island as a whole ?

See prior discussion here

As I said in that thread, I think this can only bring new exposure to the island and I believe it's a good thing.

I am sorry....but that statement is just plain WRONG in so many aspects. How will a large hotel hurt Phillipsburg???? How do you think Philipsburg became into being in the first place??? THis hotel is being built on the same land that was the Great Bay Hotel. At the time of it's being built....it was the first major resort on the island!!! With the new hotel opening....it will bring 1. construction jobs. 2. it will bring plenty of tourtists. 3. endless amount of dollars for the economy 4. Permanent Jobs. 5. did is say money to the island? and the list goes on. One other important side note.....the PLanet Hollywood name will bring in countless more ''younger people'' to it's hotel. Let's face it....Most of us that have loved the island for so many years, are now ipart of the ''older generation" Saint Martin has not been as big a draw for the younger generation as it was back in the day. By having a hotel like this...it will be a great draw for the next generation to come fall in love with the island, like we did so many years ago, and insure that the island will continue to thrive in the future.

This plan of theirs is a HUGE Win for all of SXM. Maybe it's stuff like this is why the Dutch side is so far ahead of the French side in the rebuilding post Irma.

I’m sure you didn’t mean this comment in the way I’m perceiving it, but I have to say, it drives me crazy when people try to imply one side of our beloved island is better than the other. Each side is DIFFERENT from the other but better? I think NOT!

It’s one very small island in one very big ocean and while each side has its positives and negatives, in the end, it’s still one small island. Yes, some features of both sides vary but I truly believe neither side would stand as well without the other. Without PJIA French St. Martin would be in a world of hurt and without the early French side notoriety for its incredible cuisine, the Dutch side restaurants would never have evolved to their current state of variety and excellence, and we’ve been visiting long enough to both see and appreciate those differences and enjoy all that is the entire Island of St. Martin.

With the Island so desperately needing jobs and a huge influx of honest monies, I’d think twice before i chided the development of any large scale properties on either side. They might or might not meet my personal tastes but they do meet the needs of the Island at this time.

Hopefully enough people have vented now that the poster can pick himself up off the ground, dust himself off and skulk away to the French side.

My two cents is that it is a great idea

Wow!! Talking about missing the point! The last thing St. Martin/Philipsburg needs is yet more trashy Americanization to take away from the quickly declining culture of the Dutch side and this great island. Fortunately, the French have a better grasp of development on their portion of the island. There are plenty of hotel portfolios out there that could bring a much more sophisticated and upscale property/clientele to Philipsburg and yes, still bring in jobs, opportunities and even higher economic traffic. I’ would hope that the person supporting this property has no idea what planet Hollywood hotels are and the clientele it attracts. Whatever the case may be, this premium ocean front property could have been developed by someone or group that would ad to the beauty of Philipsburg and the island instead of introducing more trashy American culture. It’ should be a rather simple concept to understand and supported by those who care about what direction Philipsburg and the island takes while redevelopment continues.

Yeah, I miss the old SXM. More things like this I could see here in the States.
Wendell

Wow, sounds like SXM should ban all American development dollars and really all American citizens from the island. Sounds like any and all things American are destroying the island.

It isn't something that interests me, and I do prefer the vibe of the French side. But, if everybody liked the same things it would be a boring world. If it's a boon to the island's economy, it's hardly a bad thing. I went to a PH and was underwhelmed. But, to each his/her own.

Have to agree on this one. Why not fix and spruce up whats there now. Work on fixing whats broken, and making it better. Dutch side is over developed in my opinion and has been for years. I am all for jobs for locals, but to put a planet hollywood does not appeal to me at all. Lets try classy. So much down due to irma, that should be the real focus, Lots of folks not working due to that, one structure will not add much. The dutch goverment allowed over development so long as there pockets got padded. Everyone knows that. But to each his own. I would feel differently if I did not know this Island when it was a virgin, with natural beauty and a real paradise. love it still, but take care of what is there and make it better.

Well, in this case, "what is there" currently is a hole in the ground, so there's nothing to take care of.

At this point shouldn't everyone just be happy that SOMEBODY wants to invest in SXM. Communities in need of investors can not always be so choosy. Plus a Planet Hollywood, as any other business willing to invest big $$'s, might just attract other; classier; establishments.

...and be happy about the 1000 or so employed residents. You can wish for "classy" but "classy" might have zero interest right now. The Island needs to get back on its feet and dreaming of SXM of old should not skew the new post-Irma SXM that needs to be reborn now

I'm not going to take side on this but I do question some things. A hotel will replace a hotel; workers at that previous hotel will again have jobs; construction by a Miami firm isn't adding jobs for SXM people. This new hotel will be all inclusive so those staying there will seldom venture out to other restaurants.

I agree with sasal about getting existing places back and running but a new venture to replace an old one doesn't fall into that category. On our last visit I was surprised to see the boardwalk area all back and better than normal so quickly. My first thought was the people of SXM need income and this will bring it from cruise ships. But then I saw the tent city, 7 months after Irma. People living is squaller. And I felt the government should have done more for those people that the boardwalk.

So we all have mixed emotions, different opinions. I, for one, agree that the Dutch side has turned an eye and let building run amok where as French side enforces their laws, such as building height to maintain an island feel.

Thankfully there are two sides to this island to serve the interests of all.

"Fortunately, the French have a better grasp of development on their portion of the island."
What I see is a delayed redevelopment.

After Irma, and all the destruction! Time would be better spent rebuilding the now broken. That will bring back the jobs lost, and also bring back the lost tourists. Right now the Island is some what of an eye sore. that should be number one... Some things need to be on the back burner. But what will be will be with or without anyones opinion...

"After Irma, and all the destruction! Time would be better spent rebuilding the now broken."
This is outside money coming to the island. Government isn't going to spend their money rebuilding or replacing hotels or businesses. Planet Hollywood will bring back jobs lost and tax revenue to St Maarten to possibly have the government invest more into the island infrastructure.

Ok.... Let me not answer that!!! Pehaps I was not understood.... I really have no need to be right here, I just pray the Island comes back in full, and maybe better.

We were just on the island, and spoke to a number of business owners downtown, and 100% of them want this new hotel and can’t wait for its completed construction. That is their voice, we are just visitors on their island. It’s funny in life that people “not as a hole” move away from things they don’t like, then settle in their new place, join some board or committee, and attempt to or succeed in changing their surroundings as it was from where they came from. That being said, we spoke to many people about this hotel, every single one of them, including French people really want this to come to their island and can’t come soon enough!
And I also agree with scubaman about his talking points. This as well as our last trip, you see more French population on the Dutch side, due to the fact that the French side is still tore the he!! up.

Just Visited the Island on Oasis of Seas, we vacationed SXM last June for 2 weeks, Had a fabulous time.. last Thursday we took a car around and what a Junk yard did we see, it was so depressing !!! SXM has a lot of work to do to get the tourist to come back, I am sure most of the 6000 guests on Oasis had nothing to say but "I would never come back to this place...".there was not that feeling I want to return. Even with new construction it will not change the appearance of the complete utter failure to even care about the return of the Tourist industry. Why waste money on such a dump when there are so many other islands that want the tourist dollar. SXM has better wake up and clean this island up, the cruise industry and the Time Share Industry are not coming back anytime soon.

Wow. Did you talk to some of the other guests and that was their opinion? How long had you been going to SXM before Irma?

One heck of a first time post. Did you feel the same about the other islands you stopped at that had the same impact as St Maarten from Irma?

I thought I'd repost my comments about PH from several months ago. Still stand by my thoughts.....




I know PH in SXM, causes trepidation because some feel it will attract an undesirable younger demographic. I disagree. I don't think PH is going to attract any different type of tourist than SXM normally attracts. Here is why:

1. PH is NOT really going to attract young people. Quite frankly it is a very tired brand. It used to be everywhere and now they are down to 8 restaurants! (bankrupt Twice - Delisted stock) The hotels are relatively new thing and they only have one established hotel in the entire US (Las Vegas - actually owned by Caesars). I have been to that hotel. Its just fine, for "Vegas". (that is saying a lot for me because I visit Vegas often, always for business and never for fun) Caesars is most likely franchising/licensing the name and that may change at a drop of a hat. Its Vegas.

2. PH Hollywood has only one other functioning hotel outside the US. Its in Goa. Why? I don't know .... They have another AI resort opening in Costa Rica soon, but that seems to be it. SO.... I believe this SXM venture is pure licensing of the name and who knows where that would go....the whole thing seems desperate and destined to not happen. (OK- totally wrong here...but it will be interesting if this development remains a PH - See above)
I was
3. SXM will always change. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I know many lament that the days when it was sleepy little island are now long gone. I wish I was there to see it. But I was one of those "young" people who arrived on the island in the early '00s. I have seen many positive changes. And what attracted me was the beaches, low cost of living (once you get here), and accessibility to just about everything you need (groceries, etc...). We are snorkeling beach bums who love to cook and don't dine out often. Setting up in a beach side accommodation is all we wanted and that's what will keep us coming back. Does the island's economy benefit from us? I hope so.

Final note. Recently I read a comments on a SXM Facebook group. There was a discussion between two long time SXM visitors about how they hated the "new" young people showing up and ruining their peace at SBR (Pelican). One actually bragged how they would stake out a pool and tell kids (lying) that would arrive that it was an Adults only pool. Others applauded there ingenuity and said they did the same, I just about lost it ....but did not comment. I hope to see all of them soon and plop my daughter right next to them.... Point is the island will change. It will always will change, but so should attitudes. It will never become an, Orlando, Cancun, Padre, Vegas...but that's another thread.
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This post bothered me when I first read it, it bothered me later when I thought about it again during dinner and I actually woke up in the night thinking about it again. It is so vicious, unforgiving and close minded that I can really do nothing but shake my head. Obviously the poster has no clue as to the challenges that the island has and will be facing for a while to come. They apparently had a fabulous time in June 2017 but seeing the results of nature's destruction has led them to forget those good memories and condemn the island as no place for cruisers or timesharers to spend their money. Sad. All I can hope is that others do not feel the same way.

I saw a report that Port St Maarten was going to welcome it's millionth visitor this year, today, if the majority of cruisers had the mindset of Rowiep, then the ships would have stopped coming early in the year and the million milestone today would not have happened. If Rowiep thought the island was "Such a dump" in June he should have seen it in November, like I did, it had come some a long way between November and our last visit in July, and although not back to it's pre-Irma self, is well on the way

I'm not sure where you get this information from, if it's the article, what it declares is that the new structure will be built to the same building codes as used by Miami-Dade in Florida. Basically they are saying that it will be hurricane proof, which is what south Florida likes to say about their building codes.

The Hotel, property and other amenities will not be owned by Planet Hollywood but the facilities will be "branded" Planet Hollywood. Much like the hotel in Maho is owned by the Spadaro Group but is branded Sonesta. The Hotel and the rest of the complex at Great Bay will be owned by Sunwing.

And, by the way, that is a Canadian company that is bringing trashy Americana to the island.

What the French are actually doing is tearing down working businesses and making people jobless.

Rowlep,

If you don't want to go back....DON'T!!! The island wad decimated a year ago this week. Did you really expect to see a brand new fully recovered island???? Irma was the biggest storm in history to hit the island. To many of us....SXM is our second home. I don't think anyone expects it to be pristine now...or even in the near future. Once the bigger timeshares are back open, those timeshare people that you think won't return WILL. Myself and our friends that own there can't wait!!!!!

So true and well said.