The fate of the Saint-Martin Beach Resort sealed on 19 February
Since 15 December, the largest hotel in the French part of Saint Martin has closed its doors. An application for receivership has been filed and will be examined on 19 February by the Commercial Court of Pointe-à-Pitre. 137 direct jobs and, beyond that, the future of many families and the local economy are at stake.
On Friday morning, some of the employees gathered in front of the Anse Marcel hotel complex. For two months, employees say they have received no clear information about the future of the establishment or their own future. Despite numerous requests from the CSE to the group of investors, no information has been provided.
A ship without a captain or a course
The former Riu was purchased in June 2018 by the US-based hotel investment company Sole Resorts. The operation was entrusted to the Appel Leisure Group, with the intention of opening the hotel under the Secrets St Martin Resort & Spa brand, affiliated with the Hyatt group. However, this affiliation ended on 31 May 2025, with a change of name and management since then as an independent hotel. Today, the situation is unclear: there is no longer a clearly displayed brand, no active website for bookings and no official plans. The general manager left his post on 31 December last year. As for the company's chairman, he reportedly indicated by email that steps were being taken, but no concrete presentation has been made to staff representatives. Officially closed for renovation, it is clear that to date no work has begun and no project has been clearly announced. Employees are wondering what form the hotel will take in the future, assuming it avoids liquidation. Ingrid Mathurin, secretary of the CSE, deplores this lack of visibility.
Appeal to politicians
With 137 direct jobs, the establishment is the second largest private employer in the French part of the island. It is also the only one capable of hosting large-scale events and offering 258 rooms. Its closure would be a serious blow to the territory's accommodation capacity, at a time when the Collectivité is aiming to develop business tourism and host large gatherings.
Staff representatives say they have alerted the authorities: the local government, the Prefecture and parliamentarians. The senator has responded, reminding the State of its responsibilities as an employer. The first vice-president of the local government, Alain Richardson, the president of the Tourist Office, Valérie Damaseau, and the labour inspectorate have visited the site to assess the situation. But today, employees are waiting for clear commitments. "We expect our politicians to be aware of the issues involved in a closure," they explain.
On 19 February, the Pointe-à-Pitre Commercial Court will examine the owners' request for receivership. For the employees, this date could mark a turning point: either the start of a genuine recovery plan, with job guarantees, or the beginning of an even more uncertain process.
