GREAT BAY--St. Maarten’s tourism and hospitality sector has secured 10 honors in the 2026 World Travel Awards, with eight businesses and properties recognized across categories ranging from hotels and resorts to car rental and destination management.
The results provide international recognition for several established names in St. Maarten’s tourism industry, with Simpson Bay Resort, Marina & Spa and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa each securing two awards.
Princess Heights was named St. Maarten’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2026, while Divi Little Bay Beach Resort received the title of St. Maarten’s Leading Boutique Resort. Simpson Bay Resort, Marina & Spa secured both St. Maarten’s Leading Business Hotel and St. Maarten’s Leading Hotel.
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa was named St. Maarten’s Leading Conference Hotel as well as St. Maarten’s Leading Resort, giving the property two recognitions for 2026.
JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa was named St. Maarten’s Leading Luxury Resort, retaining the title it also secured in 2025. The Royal Suite at Holland House Beach Hotel was recognized as St. Maarten’s Leading Hotel Suite.
Outside of the hotel and resort sector, Leisure Car Rental was named St. Maarten’s Leading Car Rental Company, while Lagoon Group received the title of St. Maarten’s Leading Destination Management Company.
In total, the 10 awards were shared among Princess Heights, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Simpson Bay Resort, Marina & Spa, Leisure Car Rental, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, Lagoon Group, Holland House Beach Hotel and JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa.World Travel Awards
The results highlight the range of businesses contributing to St. Maarten’s tourism product, from accommodations and luxury hospitality to transportation and destination services. The recognition also places attention on companies operating across different segments of an industry that remains central to the country’s economy.
The World Travel Awards, now in its 33rd year, recognizes businesses and destinations across regional and international tourism categories. Its 2026 Caribbean results include individual country and territory categories as well as wider Caribbean awards.World Travel Awards
The St. Maarten winners were recognized in St. Maarten-specific categories. The country did not capture the major Caribbean-wide destination titles in the results reviewed, making the 10 awards primarily a recognition of the individual businesses and properties operating within the destination.
For St. Maarten, the collection of awards nevertheless provides another opportunity to showcase the quality and variety of its tourism sector and the businesses responsible for delivering the visitor experience.
