The USVIHTA Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 4 at 10 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas where members will hear association and industry updates while enjoying a continental breakfast. Gov. Albert Bryan will join us as guest speaker. During the meeting, members will also vote on the Board of Directors. Please click here to view the 2022 Election Slate. Click here to read nomination bylaws.

Thank you to the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas for co-sponsoring this event. If your business is interested in sponsoring future USVIHTA events, please contact Lisa Hamilton at lisa@usvihta.com.

Please begin to plan for transportation or carpooling as parking will be limited. Send RSVPs to Lisa Hamilton at lisa@usvihta.com. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Executive Director Linda I. Smith cordially invites all members of the Automobile-for-Hire industry to our final 2022 town hall. Meeting to be held at 6 p.m. on April 19-21. The purpose of each meeting is to receive final recommendations on the upcoming rate schedule/tariff increase for the territory’s taxi and tour operators and from the recent meetings held on April 4-6. Meetings will be held on each island

on:

St. John: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at Franklin D. Powell Park

St. Thomas: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at VI Taxicab Commission – Subbase

St. Croix: Monday, April 21, 2022 at Sunny Isle Amphitheater

All are encouraged to attend. For further information, please contact the commission’s district office at 340-773-1561 (St. Croix) and 340-693-4211 (St. Thomas/St. John). Read more.

More GVI news:

Governor, Lt. Governor Sign 34 Bills Into Law

DLCA Reminds of Restricted licensed Alcohol Sales on Good Friday

Gov. Bryan Issues Statement on Potential of St. Croix Refinery to Assist in National Gas Price Relief Efforts

Delegation of Agency Heads Give Presentations At National Infrastructure Conference in Hawaii

The marine tourism sector is booming in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Yacht chartering directly contributed $88 million to the territory’s economy in 2021. This figure is forecasted to be higher in 2022. To meet the USVI’s growing need for a marine workforce and enable young Virgin Islanders to fill these positions and build professional careers, the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) announces new and continuing marine workforce development programs that are FREE to selected participants. These are a first-time Junior Sailing Summer Camp, July 5-15, for ages 13-17; the 5^th annual Marine Apprenticeship Program, May 27-June 24 and August 1-5, for ages 18-29; and new, in partnership with the Department of Labor, a VIPCA-led 12-month Marine Apprenticeship Work Placement Program with sea time to qualify for a U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License, for ages 18-29. Read more.

More local and regional news:

Limited Spaces Left! Register Now! International Optimist Regatta, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - June 13-19

CFVI Announces Availability of 2022-2023 Directory of Community Organizations

EWills, Notarial Acts, Complete Streets Policy and GVI Retirees Return to Work Bill Become Law in the VI

FEMA Bulletin Week of April 12

MPE Caribbean Report April 11

Let's be honest; not everyone is meant to serve other people. And that's ok. Even fewer are meant to be in a role where they have to greet people all day. Whoever is in that role should be energized by interacting with others. Many of the customers they interact with will be people they don’t know, and not everyone likes to interact with people they don’t know. However, your team members who have customer contact shouldn’t have that issue. They should look for opportunities to engage with people. That is a very specific type of person.

If you are hiring for one of these customer-facing roles, be very selective. That person will be the “face” and sometimes the voice of your organization. Listen for the applicant to say phrases like:

• I just love people.
• I enjoy making people feel welcomed.
• I like to make each person feel like royalty.
• I’ve always been a people person.
• Meeting new people energizes me.

Takeaway: Put the right person in the right role and success will follow.

The Hotel & Tourism Association continues to work to identify great opportunities for our members. We've recently signed an agreement with Elan Insurance Group to offer Association Health Plans. Click the photo to view the PDF version in your browser. The PDF lets members know about:

1. This great NEW benefit
2. Who is qualified to receive it
3. How to get started

For more information, contact Omar Andres Haedo directly at omar.a.haedo@elan.insure.