~ U.S. Virgin Islands Hosts Successful In-market Reception Event in Washington, D.C. ~

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, July 2, 2008 - America's Caribbean brought the islands to Washington, D.C. from June 21 to 26, during the Caribbean Tourism Organization's first Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit (ACTS). The U.S. Virgin Islands positioned itself as front-and-center among the more than 30 countries of the Caribbean that participated in the week-long events, through active participation in industry meetings to discuss important issues affecting the region and by hosting an exclusive U.S. Virgin Islands media and travel agent reception on June 26 at The Park at 14th.

~ Travelers are reminded that travel to America's Caribbean is as easy as ever ~

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 22, 2008 - As the State Department begins to produce new passport cards, travelers are reminded that no passport is required to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The cards are being issued by the State Department as an alternative to the traditional passport books in an effort to simplify travel for U.S. citizens since more rigid travel requirements have come into effect with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 8, 2008 - In observance of National Tourism Week in the U.S. Virgin Islands May 9 -17, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has planned numerous activities throughout the territory aimed at building awareness of the impact of tourism on the local economy.

Have lunch with us on Wednesday, May 21, at the May General Membership Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Noon to 2:00 PM

Guest speaker: Jason Gamel
American Resort Development Association
ARDA

Timeshare Development and Partnership Opportunities

To RSVP contact the Association at 774-6835 by Monday, May 19, 2008.

U.S. Virgin Islands, March 25, 2008 For more than 15 years, the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association has hosted the annual Destination Symposium, the largest gathering of travel industry partners in the territory. This year's event, whose 2008 theme is Sizzling Summer Sampler, will be held June 2-6, 2008. The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa and Frenchman's Reef Marriott will host the delegates.

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, March 12, 2008 Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, the Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO) will be the guest speaker at the USVI Hotel & Tourism Associations' Annual Membership Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa beginning at 12 noon. Vanderpool-Wallace will speak on "The Caribbean--the most well known Destination Brand in the World." A press conference is scheduled for immediately after the meeting.

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, March 11, 2008 The Board of Directors' of the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association and the St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association recently met for the first joint meeting in 18 years. Realizing the many common initiatives between the two groups, consensuses were reached to conference monthly and conduct quarterly joint Board meetings, alternating between St. Thomas and St. Croix. Seaborne Airlines has agreed to provide inter-island transportation for the meetings.

U.S. Virgin Islands, January 23, 2008 Lisa Hamilton, Director of Sales and Marketing at Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Resorts, has been tapped by the Board of Directors to spearhead the operations of the U. S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association(HTA). The position has been vacant since August, 2007.

U.S. Virgin Islands, December 17, 2007 The season of giving is upon us and the Hotel & Tourism Association will join in the spirit with their annual gift presentation to the Boys & Girls Club on St. Thomas. Mascot Tommy Starfish will pay a visit to the club on Saturday, December 22, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. to spread cheer to the 50-plus kids that participate in clubs’ programs. This is the seventh year that the association has shared the spirit of the holiday with the club.

U.S. Virgin Islands, November 28, 2007 Tommy Starfish, the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association mascot, has returned from hiatus to deliver the second installment of his newsletter, Tommy Goes to School. The quarterly newsletter was created to educate kids on the tourism industry, spotlight various positions, profile local professionals, highlight indigenous facts and feature cool things that are a part of the Virgin Islands culture. This educational tool is sponsored by First Bank VI.

U.S. Virgin Islands, November 20, 2007 Hospitality employees were honored recently with prestigious Tommy Star Awards for their outstanding contributions to the industry. This is the 6th year that the Hotel & Tourism Association has hosted the awards gala to recognize “stars” for their excellence and dedication.

U.S. Virgin Islands, October 16, 2007 The Hotel & Tourism Association (HTA) is excited to announce that the annual Tommy Star Awards Gala is scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2007, at the Frenchman’s Reef Marriott. This much anticipated event recognizes hospitality employees demonstrating excellence, and serves as a fundraiser for the association’s education and training fund.

U.S. Virgin Islands, October 1, 2007 The 8th Annual Pumpkin Cup Golf Tournament will tee off at 9:00 am on Sunday, October 14 at Mahogany Run Golf Course. The tournament sponsored jointly by the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association and the St. Thomas/St. John Ladies Golf Association, supports programs geared toward female golfers and funds clinics to teach young women the sport. Portions of the proceeds raised are donated to the scholarship fund of the HTA. Last year’s donation exceeded $5000.

U.S. Virgin Islands, September 12, 2007 Lauritz Mills, Director of the Bureau of Economic Research (BER), will be the guest speaker at the September Membership Meeting of the U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association. The luncheon meeting, scheduled for September 19 at Holiday Inn Windward Passage, will get underway at 12 noon.

U.S. Virgin Islands, September 12, 2007 In an effort to consistently offer hospitality employees advancement opportunities, American Express and the Caribbean Hotel Association will unveil a new customer service training course at a press conference on September 26, 2007, at the Ritz Carlton on St. Thomas beginning at 12:30 p.m. The islands’ 15 certified trainers are scheduled for a refresher course prior to the press conference.

U.S. Virgin Islands, June 19, 2007 VI flags waved high today as the Virgin Islands Culinary Team received multiple honors at the annual Taste of the Caribbean Competition sponsored by the Caribbean Hotel Association. Competing against 12 other regional teams, the VI Culinary Team used their mystery basket of ingredients to creatively present an appetizer, entrée and dessert to the panel of discerning judges.

U.S. Virgin Islands, June 18, 2007 In November 2007, Dorcas Alexander, steward at the Westin St. John was the recipient of the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association’s 2006 Tommy Star Award for Hotel Employee of the Year. Last night in Miami at the Caribbean Tourism Conference, Alexander received the American Express/Caribbean Hotel Association Salute to the Stars of the Industry Employee of the Year honor. In an audience of Caribbean counterparts, Ministers of Tourism, and other hospitality representatives, Alexander graciously accepted the tribute on behalf of all tourism employees.

U.S. Virgin Islands, June 8, 2007 Gold is the medal of choice as the Virgin Islands Culinary Team readies to compete against 13 regional teams at the annual Taste of the Caribbean Competition in Miami, Florida. The competition, sponsored by the Caribbean Hotel Association, will take place June 17-19 as a component of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Conference. The goal of the competition is to continually raise the standards of Caribbean food and beverage excellence and professionalism, promote camaraderie and educational opportunities among food and beverage professionals, and to act as a staging area for the development of food and beverage concepts.

U.S. Virgin Islands, March 14, 2007 A review of last year’s accomplishments and programs, elections, and an informative presentation by Peter Odle, President of the Caribbean Hotel Association will highlight the upcoming Annual Membership Meeting of the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association. The luncheon meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at the Frenchman’s Reef Marriott beginning at 12 noon.

U.S. Virgin Islands, May 1, 2007 The U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association (HTA) is gearing up for the annual Destination Symposium, slated for May 14-18 on St. Thomas. The conference begins with a welcome reception and culminates with a local breakfast at Holiday Inn and shopping in downtown Charlotte Amalie.