USVIHTA August 2020 Update 4

USVIHTA Update | August 2020

Greetings Members,

The deadline is quickly approaching to apply for a curfew pass with VITEMA. Curfew passes will only be issued through the end of August. Click here to download the application.

And don't forget to text USVIHTA to 55678 to receive our text alerts! To opt in, open a new text message and enter 55678 as the recipient. In the message, enter the keyword USVIHTA (it can be upper or lower case, but must be one word with no spaces) and send. You will receive a confirmation text letting you know you've successfully opted in. We do have a maximum number of texts we can send each month, so please be sure that those signing up to receive text alerts are members of your staff who can disseminate information to the rest of your team. Thank you to Save On Islands for assisting USVIHTA with this valuable tool to immediately communicate important information with our members.

CHTA's Caribbean Tourism Fireworks with the U.S. Virgin Islands

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's CEO and Director General Frank Comito met via Zoom with U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan as part of CHTA's series of fast-paced, virtual press conferences to provide insight on destination reopenings during the pandemic. Bryan discussed how the USVI is working to balance economic survival, self-protection and community care, while responding effectively and compassionately to those in need during unprecedented times. Thank you to Gov. Bryan for mentioning his administration's ongoing relationship with the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association as we continue to work together to promote and sustain our industry. Visit the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association's Facebook page at facebook.com/CaribbeanHotelAndTourismAssociation to view the video of the press conference.

COVID-19 Update

Please click the links below to read our recent updates. Keep in mind that statistics are changing daily as we learn more, so some of the information from our updates may have changed. You can also visit doh.vi.gov/covid19usvi for more information. To receive updates, alerts and notifications on COVID-19 in the USVI, TEXT “COVID19USVI” to 888777. If you suspect you have symptoms or if you have questions, please call the Health Department’s Epidemiology Division Hotline: 340-‪712-6299 (STX) and 340-‪776-1519 (STT & STJ).

USVIHTA COVID-19 Communications:

Other Information:

Tropical Treasure Hunt Wins 2020 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award and Offers New Augmented Reality Experience

The Tropical Treasure Hunt Company announced it has been recognized as a 2020 Travelers’ Choice award-winner for attractions. Based on a full year of TripAdvisor reviews, prior to any changes caused by the pandemic, award winners are known for consistently receiving great traveler feedback, placing them in the top 10 percent of experiences in the world. Read the full press release here.

Additionally, The Tropical Treasure Hunt Company is pleased to announce a new service for guests. It now has an exclusive license in St. Thomas to allow visitors and residents to try an augmented reality GPS based game for families called Magic Portal. Augmented reality is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world. The Tropical Treasure Hunt Company pairs the technology with its immersive treasure hunts to provide a unique mind teasing experience around St. Thomas. Once the island reopens, the new service will be open for bookings. Click here to read a recent review of the new service. Click here to view a trailer of the experience. The Tropical Treasure Hunt Company is also offering an adult version called Operation Mindfall, which is a spy thriller available mid September. Click here to view the trailer. And don’t forget to share these exciting new activities with your guests!

Free Live Webinar from Viya - 4 Key Fundamentals for Business Continuity on Sept. 2

Join us for a live FREE webinar on Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. to learn more about the four fundamentals: Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. 1) Business Assurance: It is possible! 2) The importance of a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan. 3) Cloud services and remote work to keep your business running. 4) Choosing the right technology partner to get support when you need it most. Click the flyer to the right to expand. Register here.

U.S. Virgin Islands Unscathed Following Tropical Storm Laura

The National Weather Service's warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands has been lifted following the passage of Tropical Storm Laura. The storm brought strong winds and heavy rainfall, but with little to no impact to the territory’s tourism infrastructure, the Department of Tourism has reported. Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix are open and operating as normal. Read more.

More USVI news:

Moody's Upgrades VI Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation Bonds

Stay Engaged and Informed with CHTA Roundtables

Join the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association as they launch CHTA Roundtable virtual meetings, starting in early September. Each Friday for six weeks, different peer groups will join together on a Zoom meeting to receive a brief industry update, hear perspective from leaders in the region and share in candid dialog regarding your challenges, successes and best practices that you can share with others in similar roles. We will review CHTA’s resources that have been made available throughout the pandemic, and gather your thoughts on how the association can best serve you now and into the future. Read more.