St. Croix Chefs Go Head-to-Head for USVI Culinary Team Executive Chef Position

St. Croix's most talented chefs heated things up on July 23 at the 26th Annual Taste of St. Croix as they competed for first place and an opportunity to join the USVI Culinary Team as Executive Chef. The team will travel to Barbados in November to compete in the regional Taste of the Caribbean competition. Chefs were challenged to create one appetizer and one entrée from mystery ingredients (protein, starch, vegetables, spices and more). Chefs had 15 minutes to draft recipes, 45 minutes to create the appetizer and 30 additional minutes to complete the entrée. The coveted first-place prize went to Jamal Miranda of Wokame Island Sushi, second place to Melvin Johnson of B&B Kitchen, and third place to Aaron Bradshaw of 1756 Grutto. Thank you to Taste of St. Croix Organizer Collin Hodge, Ridge to Reef Owner Nate Olive, and our three judges. See below for team sponsorship opportunities.

USVIHTA 2026 Summer Employment Program Closes July 24 at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort

The USVIHTA Education & Training Committee’s Summer Employment Program Certificate Ceremony was held July 24 at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, our generous host and event sponsor. Eighteen students completed the program which launched on June 12 with orientation. Students began work on June 15, and completed the program after six weeks with 24 working hours each week. Thank you to the providers, including the Department of Labor, Sen. Dwayne DeGraff and Sen. Carla Joseph. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to our host businesses and USVIHTA members, including: Bolongo Bay Beach Resort; Coral World Ocean Park; Diamonds International; Emerald Beach Resort; Gallows Point Resort; Hotel 1829; Lindbergh Bay Hotel & Villas; Margaritaville Vacation Club; The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas; The Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Thomas; and Secret Harbour Beach Resort.

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.

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

Virgin Islands Department of Labor Launches Unemployment Insurance Employer Tax Portal 

The Virgin Islands Department of Labor (VIDOL) is pleased to announce the official launch of its Unemployment Insurance (UI) Employer Tax Portal, a secure, user-friendly online platform designed to modernize the administration of employer unemployment insurance tax reporting and payments throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. The new portal officially became available to employers on Aug. 3. The Employer Tax Portal represents a significant milestone in VIDOL's ongoing digital transformation initiative, providing employers with a convenient, secure, and efficient method to fulfill their unemployment insurance reporting and payment responsibilities from a single online location. The system eliminates the need for paper submissions while providing employers with 24-hour access to their unemployment insurance tax accounts.

CHIEF 2026 Unveils Session Topics to Prepare Caribbean Hospitality and Tourism for 2030

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled the program for the 2026 Caribbean Hospitality Industry and Exchange Forum (CHIEF), scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All-Inclusive Resort. As the Caribbean hospitality industry's leading forum for professional development, CHIEF equips hospitality and tourism leaders with practical strategies, peer-to-peer insights, and innovative solutions to strengthen business performance and prepare for the future. This year’s theme, “Caribbean Tourism 2030: Resilient. Regenerative. Ready. Practical Strategies to Lead Smarter, Operate Better and Grow Stronger,” reflects the industry's focus on preparing for the next decade. Programming is organized around six content pillars including Technology & AI; Talent and Workforce Development; Sustainability, Resilience, Risk Management and Climate Adaptation; New Business Models & Revenue Streams; Operational Management; and Sales, Marketing, Channel Management and Social Media.

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.

Explore the Infinite: Free Infinity Day & Safety Event at VICM

In celebration of the National Year of Math, the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum invites families to an action-packed CERCA Saturday on Aug. 8 (8/8/26), combining the mind-bending world of math with critical hurricane readiness. Sponsored by The Center for Education about Risks both Coastal and Aquatic (CERCA), this event empowers families to engage with the community, deepen their understanding of environmental risks, and contribute to a more resilient Virgin Islands. Thanks to generous support from White Bay Global LLC, admission is entirely free for guests of all ages to enjoy family fun and learning through play. The main festivities run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., beginning with a Sensory-Sensitive Quiet Hour from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and featuring interactive pop-up activity tables throughout the floor. The event takes place at the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, located in Buccaneer Mall, Havensight, St. Thomas.

Twenty-Three Students Graduate from Junior Sailing Summer Program – Hosted by St. Thomas Sailing Center & Supported by VIPCA and RapierMed

Graduation from the Junior Sailing Summer Program on July 31 at the St. Thomas Sailing Center marked not the finish line, but the beginning of a lifetime of confidence, competence and enjoyment on the water for twenty-three St. Thomas teens. The free program for U.S. Virgin Islands public school students was presented by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) through its nonprofit Marine Rebuild Fund and made possible by a $25,000 annual sponsorship from RapierMed LLC, a St. Thomas-based medical and healthcare investment group. Now in its sixth year, the program has introduced nearly 100 students, ages 12 to 17, to sailing and seamanship.