USVIHTA

Update

August 28, 2026

Association Updates

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.

Sponsorship tiers

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

Local Updates

Gov. Bryan Announces $2.5 Million Federal Award for New St. Thomas–Water Island Passenger Ferry

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration has awarded the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works $2.5 million for a new passenger ferry serving St. Thomas and Water Island, continuing the Bryan-Roach Administration’s effort to strengthen marine transportation across the territory. The award was made through FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program as part of approximately $665 million in ferry investments announced nationwide, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new vessel will increase passenger capacity between Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Water Island and provide a more dependable transportation option for residents, workers and visitors who rely on the route.

More local news:

DPW Announces Demolition of Addelita Cancryn Pedestrian Bridge and Full Road Closure to Begin on Aug. 28

Fort Christian Parking Lot Temporary Closure

Regional Updates

CHTA Opens Nominations for the 2026 CHIEF Awards, Honoring Excellence Across the Caribbean Hospitality Industry

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association announced that nominations are open for the 2026 CHIEF Awards, a program that recognizes member organizations delivering meaningful results and best practices that benefit the wider Caribbean hospitality and tourism sector. Winners will be celebrated at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), taking place Nov. 16-18, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord's Castle Resort. CHTA members may submit nominations across six categories this year, including the new Guest Experience Excellence category, which recognizes the importance of continually enhancing the guest journey and responding to evolving traveler expectations. The categories are: Environmental Sustainability; Sales & Marketing; People Development & Support; Social Responsibility; Tech Transformation; Guest Experience Excellence (new).

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.