USVIHTA

Update

September 25, 2026

Association Updates

USVIHTA October Membership Mixer at Nautilus 340 - RSVP Today!

Join USVIHTA for our next Membership Mixer on Oct. 8 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Nautilus 340. Members will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a complimentary beverage along with a cash bar while networking and hearing association updates. Attendees will also have an opportunity to share their own updates. RSVP today with Lisa Hamilton at lisa@usvihta.com.

ServSafe Certification Oct. 22-23 - Limited Seats

The St. Thomas – St. John Hotel & Tourism Association, in partnership with the University of Puerto Rico at Carolina, is pleased to offer FREE ServSafe Manager Certification and FSMA Food Safety Training for hospitality and foodservice members. The eight-hour training will cover essential food-safety practices, FSMA requirements and food traceability, followed by the two-hour proctored ServSafe Manager certification exam. Training will be offered on St. Thomas Oct. 22–23 at Westin Resort and Spa at Frenchman’s Reef.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS OCT. 2.

PARTICIPANTS MUST:

BRING A LAPTOP TO THE EXAM SESSION (NOT FOR THE TRAINING SESSION) Cell phones, recording glasses, personal computers & iPads are not permitted during the exam
Register in advance and provide their full name and a valid email address.
Create or verify an individual ServSafe account before the certification exam.
Review the training materials and practice exam questions that will be provided before the course.
Confirm their exam language preference and any reasonable accommodation needs in advance.
Attend the eight-hour ServSafe Manager/FSMA training and then participate in a scheduled two-hour proctored ServSafe Manager certification exam.
Follow exam-security requirements.

Support the USVI Culinary Team as they Compete in Barbados this November!

The USVI Culinary Team has all the ingredients for success as the team prepares to compete at the Taste of the Caribbean culinary event in Barbados Nov. 16-19, hosted by CHTA. Executive Chef Jamal Miranda, Pastry Chef Erika Dupree Cline and Bartender Joshua Jno-Pierre represent three of the most talented and inspired culinary and beverage artists in the industry. USVIHTA is honored to have this exceptional trio representing the territory. For 15 years, USVIHTA 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 will compete against other Caribbean nations in a variety of timed challenges that test their ingenuity, presentation, showmanship and more. All of the team members have already proven their ability to thrive under pressure during various competitions on a local, regional and world stage, excelling under strict time limits and surprise ingredients.

"It’s our pleasure to introduce the new USVI Culinary Team, who enter this competition with a fresh perspective and sharp skills," said USVIHTA President Lisa Hamilton. "These three talented individuals were meticulously selected to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands, and we are thrilled to see the passion and flavor they bring to the table."

Click the link below to learn how you can sponsor the team!

Sponsorship tiers

Local Updates

TTW’s Top 30 Shopping Travel Destinations in the Americas and Caribbean for 2026

Travel And Tour World (TTW) today reveals its Top 30 Shopping Destinations in the Americas and Caribbean for 2026, highlighting cities and island capitals where retail enhances the visitor experience. From iconic fashion avenues and major shopping centres to artisan markets, independent boutiques and Caribbean retail streets, the ranking showcases the region’s diverse shopping culture. Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands honored with #25 spot!

More local news:

St. Croix Boil Water Advisory Lifted

Regional Updates

CHTA Announces CHIEF 2026 Keynote Speaker: G Adventures' Bruce Poon Tip

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) announced that Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures and one of the travel industry’s most influential entrepreneurs, will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), taking place Nov. 16-18 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle All-Inclusive Resort. Poon Tip built G Adventures from a 1990 startup, launched at age 22 on two maxed-out credit cards, into the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, now carrying more than 200,000 travelers a year across upwards of 1,000 trips in more than 100 countries. His perspective on how the travel business can work has carried well beyond his own company. Poon Tip has addressed the United Nations and the World Bank, spoken at the headquarters of Apple and Google, and written a New York Times bestseller, Looptail, on reinventing the way a company operates.

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.