STATEMENT FROM SONESTA SINT MAARTEN RESORTS
RE: HURRICANE IRMA AFTERMATH
[SEPTEMBER 9, 2017, 6:30AM EST]
Please be advised that communication is sporadic and we are providing you with factually accurate information at the time of receiving it. Information in these statements is relayed to the public within 30 minutes of receiving it. We are speaking directly with ownership and management of the Sonesta Sint Maarten Resorts on the ground on the island.
We understand that you are concerned about your loved ones and it is important to understand that our teams on the ground are concerned too. We all are; this is a difficult time and we are sensitive to your concerns, however it is our priority that guests of our resorts remain safe and secure and their evacuation off the island is a priority. They are in the most comfortable conditions available and they are all provided with security, food, and water. We have diesel fuel for generators to cook food and provide some electricity. Any reports of guests being looted under our care are simply not true. Please let’s all try to help control the messaging together, work closely as a compassionate and caring global society, and make evacuation and safe the priority.
Sonesta Sint Maarten resorts can confirm that Jonathan Falwell, who was an in-house guest of Sonesta Ocean Point Resort contacted Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical United States-based Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world, to provide a DC-8 with supplies and a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) on Friday, 8 September 2017. There were 27 guests of Sonesta Sint Maarten Resorts also on that aircraft evacuated which consisted of the elderly, anyone with a medical condition, women and children first. We would like to thank Samaritans Purse President Franklin Graham and Jonathan Falwell for their efforts.
We can also confirm that 25 United States citizens who were guests of Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort were evacuated on a United States C130 military aircraft on Friday, 8 September at sundown. We do not have the list at this time. We have been advised that another evacuation is imminent but do not have any further confirmation.
Today, Saturday, 9 September 2017, we have organized a commercial aircraft to further the evacuation of the remaining guests at Sonesta Great Bay and more guests from Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. This plane will depart for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The Dutch Marines have been able to dock a ship and get flights in from Curacao so more troops and supplies are on the ground in Sint Maarten.
The Dutch Marines are in control of the airport and any airline, charity organization or airline who wishes to send an aircraft with supplies, relief teams, etc. should contact the Headquarters of the Dutch Naval Operations based in Curacao at +599 946 37465.
We are currently bracing for Hurricane Jose which is expected to pass over the southwest portion of the island; it is expected that we will experience tropical storm force winds.
Due to the damages the resorts suffered, all further reservations are cancelled and all three resorts will be closed until further notice.
All pre-paid reservations on future stays will be refunded as soon as we can restore operations, pending future updates and situation assessment. All other reservations will be treated per the cancellation policy of the reservation. Please call 1-800-SONESTA if you booked directly or contact your travel agent.
We are keeping consumers informed via our website at:
www.sonesta.com/stmaarten and our FaceBook pages at:
https://www.facebook.com/SonestaStMaarten/https://www.facebook.com/oceanpointresortsxm/https://www.facebook.com/greatbaybeachresort/Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa
Sonesta Ocean Point Resort
Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, Casino & Spa
