“Beautiful SXM” For Freegan Food Cause opens SHTA 2025 Auction Collection
The painting “Beautiful SXM” from Suzanne Domenech, donated to raise funds for the cause of supporting the Freegan Food Foundation, will be the befitting reopening masterpiece of StMaartenAuction.com. Bidding can be done as of today on said website. This was announced today by Freegan Food Foundation in conjunction with the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA).
SHTA sees assisting Freegan Food with auctioning a painting called “Beautiful SXM” as a symbolic start of the 2025 auction collection. The painting, in the words of painter Domenech, “is a vibrant and deeply meaningful tribute to the island of Sint Maarten, blending the island’s natural beauty with its rich cultural heritage. The painting centers on the portrait of a woman adorned with a striking head wrap, symbolizing the iconic mountains of Sint Maarten.”
All benefits of this auction item will go to the Freegan Food Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to reducing (food) waste and supporting communities through different initiatives, like providing meals to families in need on Sint Maarten and running a thrift store. With their initiatives and the dedication of volunteers, the foundation works towards a sustainable and equitable future.
Another unique item celebrating the comeback of the St. Maarten Auction project is that of an Amsterdam city tram. For a long time, this wholly renovated tram has been the landmark of AMA Jewelers in Front Street. Due to their moving to a new and larger location down the street, the tram is now put on auction by the jewelry company to serve as a ready to go restaurant, ice cream parlor, bar or shop by a new owner.
SintMaartenAuction.com is a platform, where residents and visitors can bid on special items on offer at a reduced price from SHTA’s hospitality, activity, culinary, retail, manufacturing and service sectors. Whereas this painting focuses on art loving audiences, the February auction collection consists of a wide variety of consumer and holiday items, varying from hotel stays, activities, jewelry, food and drinks. Bidding traditionally starts at 50% of the market value and can be done until the last day of the month, after which new items are placed.
In its renewed format, SHTA offers the auction platform to fellow NGOs to put items on auction to a wider audience than would possibly be within their reach, and support their income in the process.
Having grown continuously over the past decade, SHTA membership growth picked up 10% over 2024. Its membership now representing over half of the St. Maarten economic product, SHTA is looking forward to make a wide variety of products available via the auction “game for a cause” setting, for both visitors and residents looking for a “staycation” or other bargains. It invites fellow NGOs that look for a platform to take up contact via sxmauction@shta.com.
SHTA thanks all the contributing companies; Ama Jewelers, Amsterdam Cheese & Liquor, Amuseum Naturalis, Aqua Mania Adventures, Atrium Resort, Boolchands, La Casa del Habano, Commodore Suites, Dive Sint Maarten, Domino’s, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Eagle Tours, Freegan Food Foundation, Infinity Restaurant, Ital Shack, Majesty Jewelers, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Rusty Parrot, Sapphire Beach Club, Seaview Beach Hotel, Simpson Bay Resort, SXM Padel, Tortuga, Trisport, Villa Amalia and VISIT Magazine for making the revival of stmaartenauction.com possible.