St. Maarten Flavors Makes 150 Tourism Industry Professionals Indulge in the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean
- SHTA Events
- 3 minutes ago
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At the recent edition of the St. Maarten / St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART), one evening was dedicated to the island’s diverse culinary offerings, highlighted through the Flavors program. Located near the JW Marriott, the epicenter of the event, participants embarked on a unique culinary experience in nearby Philipsburg.
The “Mystery Dinners” brought participants to six different Flavors restaurants, allowing them to sample the wide variety of cuisine available on the island.
With the capital stretching from the Philipsburg Marina to Fort Amsterdam, a selection of restaurants was chosen to showcase different aspects of island hospitality. For many participants, their culinary journey began at Rumhuys, where they enjoyed tastings of the region’s best-known spirit.
The Wong family shared their authentic Asian heritage with a Caribbean twist at fusion restaurant Aziana, located in the Philipsburg Marina. Just a few doors away, across the Rolandus Canal bridge, beach club Lazy Lizard hosted an evening featuring stunning views of the palm-lined coastline and the Caribbean Sea.
Seaview Beach Restaurant & Bar created a dedicated buffet experience on its unique Boardwalk pool deck, while Ital Shack who has been voted the #4 restaurant in the region by USA Today the previous year
hosted guests with its Rastafari-inspired “ital” cuisine at its Bush Road location. The highest point of the culinary tour was literally Mix at Divi, the rooftop bar towering above Great Bay, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area and several of the participating restaurants.
SMART is the northeastern Caribbean’s premier tourism tradeshow, bringing together buyers, suppliers, and vendors from around the world to experience the diverse destinations of this renowned Caribbean region, including its exceptional culinary offerings. The 18th edition of SMART was held at the end of June at the JW Marriott Convention Center.
As a key attraction for the island, SMART ensures that visiting tourism professionals from around the world do not simply see St. Maarten but truly experience its culture, hospitality, and flavors through four consecutive evenings of memorable dining experiences.
Research conducted in 2016 and 2021 showed that the island’s culinary scene ranks among the top reasons visitors return year after year. As a result, SMART has maintained a tradition of showcasing restaurants from both the Dutch and French sides of the island.
In 2025, St. Maarten Flavors restaurants featured at SMART included Roma, Mr. Chow, Spices of India, Ds Beach Bar, Rendez Vous, Portofino at Sonesta, and Tortuga Maho.
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