GREAT BAY--The Setai St. Maarten is projecting the creation of more than 550 direct jobs and support for over 800 additional jobs across the island when the resort reaches full operation at Indigo Bay. The combined projection represents more than 1,350 employment opportunities linked directly and indirectly to the development, including positions within the resort and jobs supported through suppliers, contractors, service providers, partners and local businesses.
The resort is scheduled to open in 2028 and has announced a local hiring target aimed at ensuring that St. Maarten residents benefit from the employment generated by the project. At least 80 percent of entry and mid-level positions are intended to be filled by residents of St. Maarten. The resort has also set a goal for residents to hold at least half of its supervisory and specialist positions.
The projected 550 direct jobs will span several areas of hotel and resort operations, including culinary services, food and beverage, guest services, wellness, recreation, engineering, maintenance, administration and management.
The additional 800 supported jobs are expected to be generated across the wider economy through the resort’s demand for goods, professional services, transportation, maintenance, food supplies, entertainment, construction support and other locally sourced products and services.
The projections position The Setai as more than a new addition to St. Maarten’s hotel inventory. At full operation, the development could become one of the country’s larger private-sector employers while creating opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses that supply the hospitality industry.
The resort said further information will be provided over the coming weeks, with individual departments and job categories to be highlighted.
Caribbean debut planned for 2028
The Setai St. Maarten was previously announced as the new identity of the Vie L’Ven development following a partnership between The Setai Hotels and Toronto-based Altree Developments.
The project is planned as The Setai brand’s first Caribbean property and will include a 205-key hotel, private villas and residential accommodations at Indigo Bay. Construction is underway, with completion targeted for 2028.
Plans announced for the resort include five restaurant concepts, three swimming pools, a 30,000-square-foot destination spa, a beach club, tennis and pickleball courts, watersports, childcare services and access to a protected nature reserve.
The development has also reported early sales activity. In January 2026, The Setai announced that all 28 suites in its Martin building had been sold and that more than 40 percent of the buildings released at that point had been purchased.
The project has been cited as part of St. Maarten’s growing luxury tourism product, alongside other high-end hotel, dining and beach club developments. International travel coverage has pointed to The Setai’s planned arrival as an indication of the Dutch side’s expanding position in the luxury market.
The resort has also presented an eco-tourism and sustainability plan to the government to guide long-term protection, restoration and responsible use of the area’s land and marine environment.
The plan is based on a voluntarily commissioned Environmental Impact Assessment completed on October 27, 2025. Plans are to strengthen environmental protections through a monitoring committee with local experts and by joining the Green Globe sustainability program, applying its standards from the start.
Measures include locally aligned beach nourishment rules, protected “no-go” marine zones, designated access points for watersports and snorkeling, and upgraded water and greywater treatment.
Eco-tourism will center on a nature reserve with trails, signage and education, plus guest and community activities such as beach cleanups, marine monitoring, coral restoration and sea turtle observations.
The resort also commits to recyclable materials, energy-efficient systems, alternative energy, a no-plastics policy and sourcing locally to support St. Maarten’s economy.
The development is also expected to generate a wide range of opportunities for St. Maarten residents and businesses.
