Support the USVI Culinary Team as they Compete in Barbados this November!

We are pleased to announce CHTA’s Taste of the Caribbean event will be held Nov. 16 – 19 in Barbados. For 15 years, the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association has sponsored the USVI Culinary Team, a group of professionally trained chefs who represent our islands at the annual Taste of the Caribbean Competition. The team, comprised of an executive chef, a pastry artist, bartender and junior chef, match their epicurean skills against other teams from the region in a quest for culinary superiority. Last year granted us an opportunity to reform our team and restructure our approach after a long hiatus. Now, in 2026, we're ready to claim our place in the spotlight and show the Caribbean our growth and resilience! Visit chtataste.com for more information on the competition. The team could not compete without the support of generous benefactors. Sponsors assist the team with travel and accommodation expenses, team jackets, fundraising events and competition supplies. The level of sponsorship is outlined below with benefits. If I can answer any questions don’t hesitate to contact me at 340-690-1635 or email lisa@usvihta.com.

Deadlines Approaching! Visit 2027 Advertising Closing Soon!

As the exclusive publishing partner of USVIHTA, North South Net, Inc. (NSN) is the official publisher of the Visit St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix in-room hotel magazine. Our goal is to promote the USVI to potential visitors, increase the actual number of overnight guests, and provide on-island visitors with the highest quality information to enable them to make the best choices during their vacation. This benefits a wide range of businesses across the USVI. Visit St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix is a high-quality, full-color upscale magazine that will be placed on an EXCLUSIVE basis in the guest rooms of over 100 hotels comprising more than 5,500 rooms in St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix covering the vast majority of overnight visitors to the islands. In order to generate more visitors to the USVI, NSN provides USVIHTA with a substantial print and radio advertising budget for use in USVI’s key airlift markets across the United States. NSN has also developed and funded a number of other programs with USVIHTA that will increase the number of tourists to the island. By supporting our partnership with your advertising, you are supporting USVIHTA, helping to increase the number of tourists to the USVI and providing these tourists with the means to make the best choices during their stay. Attached you will find all the reasons why you should make Visit St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix your primary advertising choice for 2027.

For more information, contact:

St. Thomas: Bobbie Bryan, 340-998-7025, Bobbie@northsouthnet.com

St. John & St. Croix: Leslie Hurd, 508-274-2604, Hurdpub@gmail.com

CHIEF 2026 Unveils Session Topics to Prepare Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism for 2030

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled the program for the 2026 Caribbean Hospitality Industry and Exchange Forum (CHIEF), scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All-Inclusive Resort. As the Caribbean hospitality industry's leading forum for professional development, CHIEF equips hospitality and tourism leaders with practical strategies, peer-to-peer insights, and innovative solutions to strengthen business performance and prepare for the future. This year’s theme, “Caribbean Tourism 2030: Resilient. Regenerative. Ready. Practical Strategies to Lead Smarter, Operate Better and Grow Stronger,” reflects the industry's focus on preparing for the next decade. Programming is organized around six content pillars including Technology & AI; Talent and Workforce Development; Sustainability, Resilience, Risk Management and Climate Adaptation; New Business Models & Revenue Streams; Operational Management; and Sales, Marketing, Channel Management and Social Media.

As a valued CHTA Compliance Destination, our members are eligible to receive 10% off CHIEF registration by using the discount code: COMPLIANCE10. When accessing registration, the voucher code chief@bgi26 is used to gain access to the member registration site and unlock the member registration rates. Register now.

Culinary Competition Takes Center Plate at 2026 USVI Charter Yacht Show – Nov. 14-17

Two-thirds of leisure travelers say food and beverages matter more to their travel experience than five years ago, according to the World Food Travel Association's 2026 Food Travel Monitor. That makes great cuisine a key ingredient in a memorable charter—and puts the Culinary Competition in the spotlight at the 2026 USVI Charter Yacht Show, hosted by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), Nov. 14 to 17 at IGY's Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas. USVI celebrity chef and Olympic boxer Julius Jackson returns to help coordinate the Nov. 15 'Basket & Butcher' competition, sponsored by The Market St. Thomas, Moe's Fresh Market, St. John Meats, Caribbean Foodservice and Island Harvest. Mystery ingredients, premium proteins, and a new way to watch are just a taste of what's ahead at this year's show.