MIAMI, Fla.:---  The countdown is on and the excitement is sizzling! The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has officially opened registration for Taste of the Caribbean, the region’s most celebrated culinary exchange and competition. This year’s event, taking place Nov. 16-18 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All-Inclusive Resort, promises an inspiring showcase of education, creativity, and culinary pride. 

Running alongside the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), Taste of the Caribbean offers F&B professionals immersive sessions, exchange of ideas, and networking opportunities that spark creativity, drive innovation, and celebrate the region’s rich diversity of flavors. 

As part of the event, the popular Taste of the Caribbean competitions will once again set the stage for the Caribbean’s top chefs, bartenders and pastry artists to shine. Building on its decades-long tradition, the culinary competition has become the ultimate proving ground for F&B excellence with coveted titles including Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, and Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, among others.

“There’s nothing quite like the energy of Taste of the Caribbean, with the aroma of the region's spices in the air and the thrill of watching the Caribbean’s best display their skills with pride,” said CHTA CEO Vanessa Ledesma. 

Participants refine their craft by observing established and rising culinary and beverage masters create dishes and cocktails, while receiving critiques from world-class judges that provide practical insights and global perspectives.

“What makes this event truly meaningful is the growth it sparks. Beyond the medals, participants walk away with sharpened skills, global exposure and a sense of camaraderie, as well as the honor of serving as culinary ambassadors — not only for their destinations but for the Caribbean as a whole,” added Ledesma.

Registration

Chefs, bartenders, students, and food & beverage industry professionals are encouraged to register and make their travel arrangements early to secure accommodations. Participants staying two nights or more at the host resort will also receive a $175 accommodation credit.

For more information or to register, visit https://chtataste.com/

Sponsors

Taste of the Caribbean is presented in partnership with Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lords Castle All-Inclusive Resort & Spa. Additional sponsors include ABA Global Marketing, Interval International and Mastercard.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten (BTP) today announced the launch of a nationwide School Stamp Design Competition in anticipation of the Strategic Postal Business Meeting to be hosted in Sint Maarten on November 5–6, 2025. This international forum will bring together postal leaders to discuss modernizing networks and services through collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of best practices.

The competition invites students from Grade 5 and Grade 6 of all public and private primary schools on the island to design a commemorative postal stamp reflecting Sint Maarten’s culture, heritage, people, or natural beauty. The initiative aims to engage young people creatively, raise awareness of the importance of postal services, and celebrate the island’s role in the global postal community.

“The stamp competition is an opportunity for our youth to leave a lasting mark on our national history both in the Postal Sector and our Cultural Heritage,” said Judianne Labega-Hoeve, Interim Director of BTP. “Through this initiative, we want to spark interest in philately, highlight the continued significance of postal services, and showcase Sint Maarten’s unique identity to the world. We encourage every eligible student to participate and look forward to seeing their inspiring designs.”

Entries must be submitted by the eligible student through the student’s school to BTP by October 1, 2025. The winning design will be issued as an official Commemorative Postal Stamp of Sint Maarten in 2026, with prizes including an iPad, a Beats by Dre headset, and a Casio G Shock watch. Winners will be announced in October, and the winning stamp will be officially unveiled during the International Postal Conference in November 2025. Further details are outlined in an official letter distributed to school boards by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Statistics (STAT) reports continued positive developments in the tourism sector for the second quarter of 2025.

Airport Passenger Arrivals

Because of the change in methodology, direct comparisons with data from previous years cannot be made. To maintain some level of continuity during this transition and following the advice of PJIAE, STAT used the January to December 2024 airport arrival figures as a baseline, adjusted by deducting 10% to account for resident travelers. This adjustment is consistent with historical Immigration Office data collected over the past decade.

It should be noted that PJIAE has not traditionally served as the Department’s primary source for visitor arrival data, since their system provides only aggregated passenger counts and does not differentiate between residents and non-residents.

Although the methodologies differ, the adjusted 2024 estimate (using a deduction of 10% accounting for St. Maarten residents) provides a reasonable benchmark for approximate comparison. Without such an adjustment, only the total number of visitor arrivals in 2025 could be presented, without the context of growth figures or year-over-year changes.

Given the above-mentioned, St. Maarten recorded 209,876 airport passenger arrivals in Q2 2025. This represents a 16.9% increase compared to 179,552 for the same period in 2024.

This growth underscores the improved accuracy and reliability of arrival records, which are now based on consistently applied criteria that exclude Sint Maarten residents, transit passengers, and transfer passengers. STAT uses these figures as the official benchmark for passenger movements through Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE).

Cruise Passengers
The cruise sector also posted similar results in Q2 2025. Preliminary data show that 236,391 cruise passengers arrived between April and June 2025, an increase of 14% compared to the 207,428 recorded during the same quarter in 2024.

This growth underscores St. Maarten’s position as a thriving port of call in the Caribbean.

Tourism Sector Outlook
Together, both air and cruise tourism indicators highlight a healthy and growing industry. Passenger movements provide insight into overall visitor traffic through the airport, while cruise arrivals reinforce St. Maarten’s strength as a hub for day visitors.

For more information and updates, please visit: http://stats.sintmaartengov.org.