US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association
U.S. Virgin Islands Markets Destination Offerings in Philadelphia
The USVI Department of Tourism actively promoted the territory in the Philadelphia market in March with a series of strategic meetings with travel industry partners, followed by participation in the annual Philadelphia Travel & Adventure Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
During the week, Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty held deskside appointments with representatives from the media, including Metro Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Daily News, to explore coverage opportunities, as well as press group getaways to the territory. The Department of Tourism also hosted a reception for more than 25 media representatives in downtown Philadelphia to drive awareness of this year’s Centennial commemoration and promote the series of events and activities planned for the year.
The USVI team met with meetings and event planners in the area to share the destination’s value proposition for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) market, and participated in the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) 40th Anniversary Gala, where a prize trip giveaway to the Buccaneer Hotel was auctioned for close to $3,000.
During the week, the USVI’s sales team held a destination specialist training session for travel agents in the area and interacted with hundreds of consumers at the Philadelphia Travel & Adventure Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research (BER), stay-over visitor arrivals to the territory in 2016 were up 4.3 percent compared with 2015. St. Croix registered a 6.5 percent increase and St. Thomas/St. John was up by 3.8 percent. For the first two months of the year, stay-over arrivals were up by 4.5 percent over the same period last year, with St. Thomas/St. John reporting a 4.4 percent increase in arrivals while St. Croix was up by 5.3 percent.
“We are encouraged by the momentum we are seeing in the marketplace, but we cannot be complacent,” warned Commissioner Nicholson-Doty, who noted that the Department of Tourism is focused on rolling out a strong marketing program throughout this Centennial year. “Philadelphia continues to be an important gateway and feeder city for the territory, so it’s important to maintain our presence in this area to encourage travelers to visit this spring and the rest of the year.”
United Airlines to Increase Houston Summer Flights to USVI
Following talks with United Airlines executives in Chicago in April, USVI Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty reported the carrier will increase its frequency of flights from Houston to St. Thomas during the summer season.
Commissioner Nicholson-Doty, who attended the meeting with Gov. Kenneth Mapp and members of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, said the daily flights will operate from June 8 to Aug. 14 this year, an increase from four weekly flights last summer.
“United is reporting strong demand for the U.S. Virgin Islands and we look forward to the additional lift to the territory, ” she said, noting that the airline thanked the destination for offering a product that appeals to its passengers. The goal for the Houston-St. Thomas service is year-round flights.
In addition to daily flights from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, United Airlines will once again serve Washington Dulles International Airport with daily service to St. Thomas this summer, and extend its weekly Saturday service from Newark, N.J. to St. Thomas beyond the summer months through Sept. and Oct.
Commissioner Nicholson-Doty and Gov. Mapp were in Chicago in April to meet with United Airlines executives, and to promote the territory through a series of strategic meetings with travel industry partners.
The Commissioner met with Chicago-based meetings and event planners, local elected officials and influencers, and was later joined by the governor to address Chicago-area journalists and editors from outlets such as the Chicago Sun-Times, Ebony and PBS.
According to the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research (BER), stay-over visitor arrivals to the territory in 2016 were up 4.3 percent compared with 2015. St. Croix registered a 6.5 percent increase and St. Thomas/St. John was up by 3.8 percent. For the first two months of the year, stay-over arrivals were up by 4.5 percent over the same period last year, with St. Thomas/St. John reporting a 4.4 percent increase in arrivals while St. Croix was up by 5.3 percent.
The governor and commissioner were also in New York in April for additional meetings to drive awareness and increase visitors to the territory.
U.S. Virgin Islands Offering Travelers $400 and Fourth Night Free with Centennial Plus
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has launched Centennial PLUS, an enhanced summer and fall travel promotion to coincide with the destination’s 100th anniversary as a U.S. territory.
The new, expanded package, which can be booked through participating tour operators, offers $400 in VI spending credits as well as the fourth night free for a minimum four-night stay. The credits can be easily redeemed across the territory at restaurants, retail stores, attractions and activities.
Centennial PLUS, which builds on the success of the popular $300 consumer incentive, must be booked through participating tour operator partners through June 1 for travel between June 1 and Oct. 31, 2017.
“Given the success of our Centennial promotion, we wanted to sweeten our offer so travelers can get an authentic taste of our islands during this historic year in our territory,” Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty noted, explaining that the package also provides an added incentive for visitors to travel during the traditionally slower seasons.
The promotion, which began as a small consumer-based initiative and then expanded to tour operators, has generated strong international coverage for the destination, which commemorated its Centennial on March 31.
The territory-wide commemoration features events and activities, ranging from parades, concerts and lectures to cultural exhibits and food festivals throughout 2017.
To receive the $400 in spending credits and the fourth night free, a minimum four-night stay at participating hotels is required.
Participating tour operators include American Airlines Vacations, Apple Vacations, CheapCaribbean.com, Costco Travel, Delta Vacations (MLT), Expedia Inc., Flight Center Travel Group (Libgo), JetBlue Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Travel Impressions and Tourico Holidays.
St. Croix hotel partners include Arawak Bay: The Inn at Salt River, Caravelle Hotel & Casino, Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix, Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, Holger Danske Hotel, Hotel on the Cay, Mount Victory Camp, Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, the Buccaneer Hotel, the Palms at Pelican Cove, Sand Castle on the Beach and Sugar Beach Condo Resort.
On St. John, participating hotels include Coconut Coast Villas, Concordia Eco-Resort, Gallows Point Resort, the Westin St. John Resort & Villas, and Vacation VI/SirenUSA.
Participating hotels on St. Thomas include Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Galleon House, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, Windward Passage Hotel and Virgin Islands Campgrounds.