ARDA Recognizes Oyster Bay Beach Resort General Manager

Jan Borsje wins Silver Award in Management and Administration of Resorts, General Manager Category

Jan Borsje, general manager of the timeshare resort, Oyster Bay Beach Resort (Oyster Bay) in St. Maarten, won a Silver Award in “Management and Administration of Resorts” in the General Manager category at the American Resorts Development Association (ARDA) Annual Awards Ceremony.

Borsje and other winners were honored during a gala dinner event held during the association’s 2008 Convention & Exposition held at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV, in April.

“It’s an honor to have our general manager recognized in such a prestigious competition,” said Joshua Gold, co-manager of Pearl Development NV, the company that owns Oyster Bay.

“We’re proud to be associated with a person of Jan’s caliber,” said Michael Dolente, co-manager of Pearl Development. Gold and Dolente have been the developers of the resort since 2003.

Borsje has been general manager at Oyster Bay Beach Resort for 16 years. The resort enjoys the highest-level, “Premier” property designation with worldwide timeshare exchange company, Interval International. Borsje is a long-standing member of the Caribbean Hotel Association and the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA). His association with SHTA has allowed Borsje to be personally involved in educating and training the island’s hospitality staff.

In 2006, Borsje was the recipient of the prestigious Crystal Pineapple Award as Manager of the Year on St. Maarten, awarded by SHTA. A hotel and resort manager on the island for 35 years, he has received many high honors for his excellent hospitality work and is recognized as one of the leading hotel managers in St. Maarten/St. Martin. Like many of his fellow islanders, Borsje speaks at least three languages including Dutch, his native language.


ABOUT OYSTER BEACH RESORT BAY:
Oyster Bay Beach Resort is located on the Dutch side of St. Maarten and currently has 147 units for both timeshare and hotel use. Forty additional timeshare units are under construction and will be completed in early 2009, with another 60 units slated for future development. Oyster Bay successfully completed the preconstruction sale of 18 luxury whole-ownership condominiums, which are currently under construction and will also be completed in early 2009. The Oyster Bay Beach Resort is characterized by modern and distinctive architecture that resonates with Caribbean style and that also affords some of the most spectacular ocean and beach views in the Caribbean. Oyster Bay Beach Resort is also the proud recipient of the Gault Millau Guide’s recognition for the Best Hotel on the Dutch side (November 2007), as well as the Travelers’ Choice award in 2005 for one of the top ten best pools in the Caribbean. It is constantly rated as the number one hotel in Phillipsburg on the Travelers’ Choice web site.

ABOUT ST. MAARTEN:
St. Maarten is an amazing island destination that embraces its dual Dutch and French ancestry. Having come to be known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, St. Maarten offers a welcome change from the ordinary through its fusion of flavors that mix European with Caribbean fare to create truly memorable dining experiences. It’s newly completed and modern international airport has made it an important hub for the Caribbean and has significantly increased tourism to the Island.