USVIHTA Update | February 2020
Greetings Members

 Thank you for reading these important updates! You can also share your special events and press releases by sending information and photos to kaufmann.laurel@gmail.com .
Sponsor the 2020 USVI Culinary Team!
The USVI Culinary Team is back and seeking sponsorship! For 13 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 www.chtataste.com. The team, comprised of three chefs, a pastry artist, bartender, alternates, students and team captain, match their epicurean skills against over 15 teams from the Caribbean region in a quest for culinary superiority. In the 2017 competition, the team brought home silver and this year we are going for GOLD! In addition to winning silver overall, team members were awarded several medals throughout the competition, including Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, and Seafood and Beef Competition medals. This year’s competition will be held in Miami, Florida June 26-30. Read the full sponsorship letter. Read about levels of sponsorship.

Check back for information on how to apply to be on the team as well as the Bartender Competition to be held on March 13 at Old Stone Farmhouse.
MBW Mystery in the Wild West Event a Success!
Thank you to all who came out and supported My Brother’s Workshop at Mystery in the Wild West! A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible - our sponsors, board members, committee members, VIMSIA, MBW staff members, the countless volunteers and everyone who attended! To see the full album of photos from the event click here. Thank you to Mark Iandolo Photography for the wonderful photos.
Coral World Ocean Park Quarterly Newsletter
Click here to view Coral World Ocean Park's NEW quarterly newsletter.
VI Small Business Development Center Hosts Training - SBA Resources to Help You Start and Grow a Small Business
The VI Small Business Development Center is hosting a training event on Feb. 27 from 6-8 p.m. for small businesses. The training session, SBA Resources to Help You Start and Grow a Small Business, will be held at the VI Small Business Development Center at Nisky Center on St. Thomas. This program will cover the primary tools and resources the U.S. Small Business Administration provides to empower business owners and entrepreneurs to access to capital, valuable resources, business know-how and the right expertise for each stage of the business lifecycle. This training is FREE, so register online now at https://sbdcvi.ecenterdirect.com/events.
Airlines Registering Strong Demand for the U.S. Virgin Islands
Travel demand for the U.S. Virgin Islands is strong and forecasts look positive, reports Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte after completing meetings at Routes Americas, a leading aviation event, on the U.S. mainland last week. Boschulte, who held bilateral conversations with about a dozen airline executives while in Indianapolis, reported that carriers were upbeat about business to the territory as he delivered important destination updates to help guide their decisions for the next winter season. Read more .
CHTA 2019 Activity Report
On the heels of an exciting, dynamic and action-packed Caribbean Travel Marketplace at the Baha Mar in The Bahamas, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association is pleased to share with you “CHTA 2019 Activity Report: Highlights of an Active Program Year.” Guided by a core of dedicated volunteers and staff and its strategic plan, your association continues to play a leadership role in advancing Caribbean tourism interests – to the benefit of every destination and company. Read more .

More from CHTA:
More Action and Funding Needed to Protect Caribbean Coasts and Marine Areas
More action and funding are needed to protect the region's coral reefs and to conserve fisheries and other marine resources, asserted Karolin Troubetzkoy, special envoy for the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI). Troubetzkoy called on businesses located in or doing business with the Caribbean to support conservation efforts by collaborating with national conservation funds across the region. Read more .
Bryan Williams’ Five Minute Leadership Tip
Save the Date
Click here to view upcoming events. And don't forget to share your special events with members today by emailing kaufmann.laurel@gmail.com .