USVIHTA Update | January 2020
Greetings Members

Happy New Year! We are excited for all of the opportunities 2020 presents for the territory and our members. Please join us in wishing one another a prosperous year!
2020 Caribbean Travel Marketplace Registrations Pacing Strong
The 2020 edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace, slated for The Bahamas between Jan. 21 and 23, is generating lots of buzz and excitement, with officials reporting strong registration pace for the event. Frank Comito, CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), reported that the region's largest and longest-standing tourism marketing event has confirmed close to 500 supplier delegates from more than 170 supplier companies to date. Read more . Register here .

More from CHTA:
Join My Brother’s Workshop for 3rd Annual Mystery Event on Feb. 8
For weeks, people have been pouring into the small western town of Deadwood for the biggest poker tournament this side of the Mississippi. From outlaws to marshals and saloon girls to southern belles, everyone has made this small western frontier town THE place to be. As the festivities of the poker tournament conclude, a celebration party is planned at the Deadwood Saloon to award the prize money for the tournament and to celebrate what is hoping to be a very financially successful venture for the saloon. With a smattering of bandits, bankers, saloon girls, sheriffs, gamblers, east coast debutantes and of course a few of the locals, this is guaranteed to make for a very interesting evening indeed. Click here to purchase tickets to Mystery in the Wild West event on Feb. 8 at Montessori School under the solar awning. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, please click here . If you would like to volunteer at the event, please fill out this form . Volunteer shifts are available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and are all 2.5-3 hours long. Each volunteer receives free admission to the event!
Deadline Extended to Jan. 17 to Sponsor the ALL-IN Against Cancer Poker Tournament!
Are you ready to be a part of a one of a kind charity Texa s Hold Em Poker Tournament? Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities for the "All-IN" Against Cancer Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament on Feb. 22, 2020 at beautiful Old Stone Farmhouse. T he corporate sponsor deadline has been extended to Jan. 17! Click here to download the sponsorship form . There will be a meet and greet at Old Stone Farmhouse on Jan. 15 from 5:30 -7 p.m. for interested players and sponsors. View the official tournament rules and fundraising event guidelines here . Proceeds will benefit Cancer Support Virgin Islands to help fight the disease that impacts us all. This elegant tournament and experience is presented by The Executive Game, a non-profit operated on St. Thomas. The Executive Game started in 2014 and is now a registered 501c3. The Mission of the Executive Game is to promote the interests of worthy charities whose work makes our world a better place. Our world class Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament is both an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to change lives. Read more. Click here to read an attachment with detailed information regarding the even t.
Coral World January Update
Click here to view the January 2020 update from Coral World Ocean Park.
The Tropical Treasure Hunt Co. Monthly Newsletter
Click here to read Issue 2: Edition 1 of The Tropical Tribune, The Official Newsletter of The Tropical Treasure Hunt Co.
S upport Our Caribbean Scholarships and Training Programs
The CHTA Education Foundation had a fantastic year and we want to thank you for your support, without which much of what we have accomplished would not have been possible. We not only funded 20 scholarships for students from 10 member countries, but also delivered on-island training courses to six destinations reaching over 550 hospitality professionals in the process. Like every year, we are preparing for our auction at the New York Times Travel Show which will take place Jan. 24-26, 2020. This auction is the cornerstone for our funding for the entire year. We are requesting your support for a 3 to 7-nights' stay which we will auction during the show to raise funds for these scholarships and programs. Read more .
Register Now! International Optimist Regatta, Clinic & Team Race Set for June 15-21, 2020
Registration is open! The International Optimist Regatta (IOR), presented by EMS (Electronic Merchant Systems) Virgin Islands, and the TOTE Maritime Clinic and Team Race will take place June 15-21. More specifically, the Clinic takes place June 15-17, followed by the Team Race June 18 along with a Parade of Nations and Welcome Party, and IOR June 19-21. Read more.
American Airlines Launches New Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth Flights to St. Thomas
American Airlines has launched new winter service to St. Thomas with the arrival of flights from Chicago (ORD) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on Dec. 21, 2019. Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport will serve Cyril E. King International Airport on Saturdays, beginning Dec. 21, 2019 through April 4, 2020. Flights from Dallas-Fort Worth also began Dec. 21. 2019 and will operate year-round on Saturdays. Read more .
New Year’s Message from CHTA President Patricia Affonso-Dass
I especially love the turn of year as it provides a wonderful opportunity not just to look back and take stock of the year that has passed, but more importantly to look to the year that lies ahead. We have much to be proud of for the way in which our industry and our association has taken up the challenges of the past year and successfully folded them into an optimistic canvas for the New Year. I'm truly heartened by the incredible sense of giving by so many in our industry who over the past several years have contributed generously to help their colleagues and the people of the Caribbean rebound in a great time of need. Read more .
USVI Listed Among 20 Hottest Travel Destinations of 2020
From MSN Lifestyle and Melanie Lieberman: With 2019 rapidly coming to a close, everyone with a thirst for travel and a healthy stash of points and miles is wondering where to go next. So we scoured the planet, reviewed countless reports and surveys, tapped our network of travel experts, studied route maps and hunted for award availability and redemption sweet spots to find your next adventure for the new decade. Read more .
Bryan Williams’ 5 Minute Leadership Tips: Extra Effort
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 .