MEXICO CITY--Princess Juliana International Airport, PJIA, represented St. Maarten at the Airports Council International Airport Commercial Forum in Mexico City, where Corporate Communications Officer Cassie Schoutens presented the airport’s approach to strengthening its relationship with the community.
Schoutens delivered a presentation titled “Building Bonds. Creating Value,” outlining how meaningful community engagement can generate benefits for residents, the airport and its commercial partners. “If you first create value for your community, your community will create value for your airport,” Schoutens told the gathering.
Her presentation highlighted initiatives developed by PJIA’s Marketing and Communications team over the past two years to bring the airport closer to the people of St. Maarten.
These included educational activities, community events, partnerships, celebrations, charitable initiatives and experiences designed to encourage residents to view the airport as more than a facility used only for travel.
Schoutens explained that stronger connections between an airport and its community can improve public trust, strengthen commercial relationships, support the airport’s reputation and contribute to the promotion of the destination.
She was accompanied by PJIA Social Media Manager Naomie Mazzola, who is part of the team responsible for several of the community-centered activities and digital storytelling initiatives featured during the presentation.
The airport’s participation placed St. Maarten’s ideas and experiences before aviation and airport professionals from across Latin America and the Caribbean. Schoutens was listed among the forum’s confirmed speakers and participated in the session “Airports and Communities: Building Bonds, Creating Value.”
The Airport Commercial Forum brought together chief commercial officers, concession managers and other industry professionals to exchange best practices, examine trends in non-aeronautical revenue and discuss strategies shaping airport commercial development. The event was held on July 29 in Mexico City.
Airports Council International, ACI, is the international trade association representing the interests of airports. Through ACI World and its five regional organizations, it works with airports, regulators and aviation partners on areas including safety, security, sustainability, commercial development, operational performance and passenger experience.
As of January 2026, the ACI federation represented 811 members operating more than 2,200 airports in over 160 countries. ACI Latin America and the Caribbean serves as the regional voice of airports across this part of the world.
PJIA's participation reflected the value of ensuring that St. Maarten is represented in international aviation discussions and that lessons developed by a small-island airport can contribute to the wider industry.
The presentation also reinforced the airport’s position that an airport is more than a terminal or runway. It is part of the community it serves, and when residents feel connected to their airport, that relationship can create value for the airport, its partners and the destination.
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰: 𝘗𝘑𝘐𝘈'𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 (𝘵𝘰𝘱) 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮. 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 (𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵) 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘗𝘑𝘐𝘈'𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘻𝘻𝘰𝘭𝘢 (𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵).
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