USVIHTA Update | September 2022
Greetings Members,

Thank you for reading these and other important updates. Please remember to use the web link at the bottom to share with your teams.
CHTA Statement on Hurricane Fiona
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) voices our solidarity with the resilient people of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as they recover from the effects of Hurricane Fiona, which initially made landfall in Puerto Rico’s southwestern region, causing flooding in remote and rural areas of the island, before affecting the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. As reported, the main airport, Luis Muñoz Marín Airport in San Juan (SJU), has already reopened and we have full confidence in the ability of the people of Puerto Rico to restore normalcy in their beautiful territory. We are committed to hosting both the inaugural CHTA Caribbean Travel Forum and the 40th Caribbean Travel Marketplace in San Juan, Oct. 3-5, and look forward to seeing our friends and business associates at the dynamic face-to-face sessions planned for the event. Read more.

More regional news:
Registration is Open! 49th St. Thomas International Regatta Set for March 24-26, 2023
Get ready to STIR up the fun! Registration is now open for the 2023 St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), set for March 24-26, 2023. This is the place to be for world-class racing, and the chance to trade tacks and tactics with professional crews as well as with weekend warriors who have sailed year-round in anticipation of besting fellow competitors. What’s more, register too for the Round the Rocks Race (RTR), which circumnavigates the neighboring island of St. John on March 23. RTR is a terrific opportunity to tune up for STIR and provides an additional chance to land a podium finish at the prizegiving. Add the one-stop venue at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), the quintessential beachfront Caribbean vibe, and organizers ‘can do’ attitude toward competitors, and it’s easy to see how STIR earned its motto, ‘We Love It Here’ You will too! Read more.

More local news:
MER-Day at the Museum!
This month, the Virgin Islands Children's Museum, with the help of storyteller and artist Euell Nielsen, will be hosting a MER-Day at the Museum for children who are obsessed with merpeople! On Sept. 28, families are invited to bring their children to the VI Children's Museum to enjoy Mermaid storytime, crafts and coloring, and even experience a water-based science demo. Parents can also enter the Mermaid Doll raffle for a chance to win a one of two handmade, washable crochet mermaids create by Nielsen. The mermaid dolls are valued at $200 and raffle tickets will be $10 each. Interested parents may visit the VICM to fill out their raffle tickets, or email your name, email and phone number to vichildrensmuseum@gmail.com. Visitors will pay regular admission prices to enter the museum on MER-day. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information on MER-Day, you may visit their website, www.vichildrensmuseum.org, call 340-643-0366 or email vichildrensmuseum@gmail.com. Be sure to follow the VICM on Facebook and Instagram @vichildrensmuseum for updates! Read more.
Bryan Williams' Tip: Let's Talk about Excellence
The root word of excellence is excel. To excel means to go beyond what is expected. It is not a word that should be used lightly. If excellence is promised by you, your team or your organization, then make sure to deliver exactly that: Excellence. Go above and beyond. Do more than is expected. Consistently.

For some of us, that requires a shift in our thinking, and in our reality.

If you want every email to have a complete sentence, guess who must lead the charge? You! If your hope is that every customer has their preferences acted upon, guess who must be the first to act on their staff’s preferences? You!

Once you’ve finished modeling the desired behavior, ensure that everyone is held accountable for those service standards - including yourself. So “where does excellence” begin? It begins with you.
Association Health Plans Available Now through Elan
The Hotel & Tourism Association continues to work to identify great opportunities for our members. We've recently signed an agreement with Elan Insurance Group to offer Association Health Plans. Click the photo to view the PDF version in your browser. The PDF lets members know about:
  1. This great NEW benefit
  2. Who is qualified to receive it
  3. How to get started

For more information, contact Omar Andres Haedo directly at omar.a.haedo@elan.insure.
Save the Date

Don't forget to share your special events with members today by emailing kaufmann.laurel@gmail.com.
Lisa Hamilton 
USVIHTA President 
340-774-6835