The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau has announced the passing of St. Maarten tourism icon Robert Dubourcq last week. Affectionately remembered by many, Dubourcq helped pave the way for many in the St. Maarten tourism industry.
“A household name, he was, in the development and shaping of St. Maarten’s Tourism Industry as we know it today,” said the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB) on Thursday.
Remembered for his many years as manager of Divi Little Bay and more recently as manager of Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, Dubourcq “no doubt helped to put St. Maarten on the map,” according to the STB.
After his tenure at Sonesta Great Bay Resort, Dubourcq returned to the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), which he cofounded, taking over as chairman and executive director. Under his guidance, SHTA developed into a multi-sectorial agency in the 1990s. With four decades of board presidency and membership to his name, he was forced to retire due to failing health.
For his contributions to the further development of tourism on St. Maarten, Dubourcq was awarded the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Hotelier of the Year Award in 2004 and the St. Maarten Hotel and Trade Association’s Life Time Achievement Award in 2012.
St. Maarten is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations (Kingdom of the Netherlands and France), creating a destination with European charm and Caribbean flair. Located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, the island’s 37 square miles has 37 beaches and is home to many historical and family-oriented attractions. Direct air service is available to Princess Juliana International Airport from numerous major U.S. and Canadian cities.
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