PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Luxury specialists Gregory Druart and Victoria Mas will lead the brand’s new shop location, drawing on collective international real estate experience servicing clientele from around the world.
Engel & Völkers today announced its expansion into the Caribbean markets of St. Martin and St. Barth with the opening of its newest shop location, Engel & Völkers St. Martin, led by license partners Victoria Mas and Gregory Druart. Mas is a native of France and brings a decade of experience in luxury real estate to this new venture. Previously, she spent many years with a private jet company, traveling the world and honing her expertise in high-end client service before settling in Dubai for a period of time to work with an international luxury brand. She now specializes in various segments of real estate in the islands, handling sales and rentals and serving clients both foreign and domestic. Druart is a successful international businessman with real estate experience spanning three continents, including work in the South of France, Moscow, Guangzhou, and the Caribbean.
Engel & Völkers St. Martin’s flagship location will open on the island’s French side in Baie Orientale, directly on the beach, and will service the entire island of St. Martin as well as the island of St. Barth. Future growth plans include dedicated shops opening on the Dutch side of the island and on St. Barth.
“I am thrilled to expand our presence in the Americas to include St. Martin and St. Barth,” said Anthony Hitt, president and CEO, Engel & Völkers Americas. “The islands have long been an international resort destination, and paired with Victoria and Gregory’s collective expertise in both navigating the local real estate market as well as in cultivating luxury client experiences, I am confident that the market here will thrive as part of our global brand and network of collaborative, discerning real estate professionals.”
Known as the “Friendly Island,” St. Martin is highly influenced by European culture and is famous as much for its gastronomy as it is for its 37 beaches and more than 40 miles of picturesque coastline. The French/north side of the island offers a more traditional seaside stay experience and is home to the island’s famous SXM music festival. The Dutch/south side of the island is known for its lively nightlife, bars, clubs and casino. The housing market here varies, offering options ranging from luxury beach villas to one-bedroom apartments, with a very healthy rental market.
St. Barth lies approximately 20 miles to the south of St. Martin, and is known for attracting celebrities and high-networth jetset clientele. The real estate market here resides largely at the highest end of the luxury spectrum. However, both islands offer attractive investment opportunities to international buyers, with no taxes in St. Barth and no housing or inheritance taxes on the Dutch side of St. Martin. Both islands also offer multiple direct flights to and from Canada, Europe and the U.S.
“The real estate experience in the Caribbean is long overdue for a modern refresh,” said Victoria Mas. “One that understands and is able to cater to the evolving needs and preferences of sophisticated clients from all over the world. And quite simply, to reach a luxury market, you need a luxury brand. Engel & Völkers provides that fresh, forward-thinking approach to real estate, while at the same time, is already synonymous in the minds of our clientele with personalized, luxury real estate service. With the systems, tools, technology, and international platform and brand recognition that Engel & Völkers delivers, our business is now able to service consumers at an unparalleled level of expertise, reach and service.”
Engel & Völkers operates a global network of over 13,500 real estate professionals in 34 countries. For more information, visit stmartin.evrealestate.com.
