US Virgin Islands: Plans To Welcome Larger Cruise Ships #Cruise

US Virgin Islands cruises

Trend for larger cruise ships a reality

               Following a recent meeting of a subcommittee of the St.Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth E. Mapp observed plans for infrastructure upgrades and additional berthing capacity to accommodate larger cruise vessels at Crown Bay and The West Indian Company (WICO) docks.

“The trend for larger cruise ships is a reality and working together we can find solutions which allow St. Thomas to remain competitive and provide growth opportunities,” said Governor Mapp.

The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce reacted positively to the Governor’s plans to stimulate economic activity across the district.

Govern Mapp and members of the Ports of the Virgin Islands team outlined ongoing dredging projects, funded through the first phase of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) after last year’s storms. The dredging will permit Quantum Class vessels to dock on the north side at Crown Bay and Oasis Class vessels to berth at the West Indian Company facility.

Enhancing the visitor experience was also a topic of discussion at the meeting. Governor Mapp shared that the Department of Tourism is in the process of securing additional entertainment and greeters to showcase the creativity of Virgin Islanders throughout the ports and downtown areas. Also discussed was the desire to increase collaboration with merchants on the Main Street Revitalization project to help minimize the impact on commerce without further delaying the project.

The Territory’s chief executive also shared ongoing efforts to improve transportation and increase the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in the Territory as a means to expedite the inspection process and provide a smoother transit experience as the Virgin Islands prepares for more flights and visitors during the upcoming winter season.

The group heard a presentation from the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) on a potential development at Crown Bay that features activities such as a biking/hiking trail from the port to Lindbergh Bay. The West Indian Company presented concepts to expand berthing capacity, while Public Works Commissioner Nelson Petty updated the group on the Veteran’s Drive improvement project, which is on schedule.

Governor Mapp also noted the tourism product and experience in the district was improving thanks to strong public-private sector collaboration. He praised the contributions of the Carnival Corporation brands – Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line – which have committed $800,000 towards the funding of various projects, including the Children’s Museum, the Little Libraries program, the building of a Children’s Playground (Carnival Fun Park) at Emile Griffith Park as well as $20,000 in supplies and equipment for the Charlotte Amalie High School Gymnasium. Funding for these projects is being administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

In addition, Carnival Corporation has committed to a music program that provides instruments to the Department of Education and a program which will engage students on board its ships. Plans are also in the works to have officials from the cruise lines lecture in schools.

Governor Mapp said these types of partnerships are crucial to bridging the gaps where funding is either limited or not available under federal programs: “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership with the cruise industry.”

Meanwhile, the Ports of the Virgin Islands – an alliance which includes the Department of Tourism, VIPA and WICO – remains committed to solidifying its partnership with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and the recently formed Eastern Caribbean cruise group.

Attending the meeting were Chamber of Commerce representatives Richard Berry, Vivek Daswani, Michael Creque, Filippo Cassinelli and John Woods; VIPA’s Executive Director David Mapp and Property Manager Deborah Washington; WICO’s CEO Clifford Graham; Commissioner Petty; and Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty along with Department of Tourism team members Angela Payne, Director of Visitor’s Experience, and Tanya Duran, who serves as Director of Office Operations.

U.S. Virgin Islands, Airbnb Sign First Tax Agreement In The Caribbean #USVITourism

From left: Attorney Tamarah Parson-Smalls, BIR Director Marvin Pickering, Governor Kenneth Mapp, Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty, and Shawn Sullivan and Carlos Muñoz of Airbnb at  press conference on St. Thomas..

  

The Government of the United States Virgin Islands and Airbnb have confirmed the first tax agreement in the Caribbean, which will allow the platform to collect the Territory's 12.5 percent Hotel Room Occupancy Tax on behalf of hosts and remit the funds to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The agreement will also create a framework to help promote tourism to the U.S. Virgin Islands, highlighting the cultural and historical heritage of this world-class destination.

Airbnb has been investing in partnerships in the region to support a thriving community of homeowners who are renting their spaces and creating new flows of local economic benefits.

Agreements have been signed with several countries and with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to create policy frameworks for this growing hospitality trend of home sharing. Today's announcement spearheads the company's efforts in the Caribbean to collect and remit lodging taxes on behalf of hosts, allowing hosts to comply and give back to their communities.

The Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kenneth E. Mapp, supported the agreement and noted that locals will increase their participation in the economic benefits of tourism. "This is good for our Government because it streamlines the collection process and enables more of our residents to participate in the visitor industry. Our hospitality sector will also greatly benefit from the promotional reach of this multibillion-dollar organization," Mapp said.

The agreement with Airbnb is a component of the Mapp-Potter Administration's Five Year Plan to fully restore economic stability to the V.I. Government through economic growth, increased revenue collection and better resource management. It will help improve and diversify the tourism industry and create unique experiences for and by the locals of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas and their visitors.

Airbnb has about 2,000 active listings across the U.S. Virgin Islands and a typical Airbnb host earns US$7,700 a year. "Airbnb represents a supplemental income, which helps families pay their bills and improve their quality of life. As local hosts bring more tourism to the region, visitors get to know the country from an organic and more authentic point of view, spending in local businesses and services, as well as encouraging others to visit the islands as a result of their positive experience," said Shawn Sullivan, Airbnb's Public Policy Manager for the Caribbean and Central America.

Local authorities also pointed to the importance of the growth and diversification of tourism to the island and the improvement of tax collection for both hosts and government.

"This agreement brings to the table a well-resourced partner to help with our efforts to attract people to our islands," observed Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

Marvin Pickering, Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, said the additional revenue would be beneficial for the treasury. "This voluntary collection agreement for the hotel room tax provides the bureau with an additional resource to ensure that the tax is collected and remitted in a timely manner. We look forward to pursuing this additional avenue of increasing the tax revenue from Airbnb hosts as they participate in our Territory's tax regime by fulfilling their filing and payment obligations."

About Airbnb:

Founded in 2008, Airbnb's mission is to create a world where people can belong when they travel by being connected to local cultures and having unique travel experiences. Its community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations from apartments and villas to castles and treehouses in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries.

With Experiences, Airbnb offers unprecedented access to local communities and interests, while Places lets people discover the hidden gems of a city as recommended by the people that live there. Airbnb is people powered and the easiest way to earn a little extra income from extra space in a home or from sharing passions, interests and cities.

www.airbnb.com 

About the United States Virgin Islands:

For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Twitter (@USVITourism) and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

U.S. Virgin Islands Offering Travelers $400 And Fourth Night Free With Centennial Plus #USVITourism

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has launched "Centennial PLUS", an enhanced summer and fall travel promotion to coincide with the destination's 100th anniversary as a U.S. territory.

 

The new, expanded package, which can be booked through participating tour operators, offers $400 in VI Spending Credits as well as the fourth night free for a minimum four-night stay. The credits can be easily redeemed across the Territory at restaurants, retail stores, attractions and activities.

 

"Centennial PLUS", which builds on the success of the popular $300 consumer incentive, must be booked through participating tour operator partners through June 1, 2017 for travel between June 1 and October 31, 2017.

 

"Given the success of our Centennial promotion, we wanted to sweeten our offer so travelers can get an authentic taste of our islands during this historic year in our Territory," Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty noted, explaining that the package also provides an added incentive for visitors to travel during the traditionally slower seasons.

 

The promotion, which began as a small consumer-based initiative and then expanded to tour operators, has generated strong international coverage for the destination, which commemorated its Centennial on March 31.

 

The Territory-wide commemoration features events and activities, ranging from parades, concerts and lectures to cultural exhibits and food festivals throughout 2017.

 

To receive the $400 in spending credits and the fourth night free, a minimum four-night stay at participating hotels is required.

 

Participating tour operators include American Airlines Vacations, Apple Vacations, CheapCaribbean.com, Costco Travel, Delta Vacations (MLT), Expedia Inc., Flight Center Travel Group (Libgo), JetBlue Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Travel Impressions and Tourico Holidays.

 

St. Croix hotel partners include Arawak Bay: The Inn at Salt River, Caravelle Hotel & Casino, Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix, Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino, Holger Danske Hotel, Hotel on the Cay, Mount Victory Camp, Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, The Buccaneer Hotel, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Sand Castle on the Beach and Sugar Beach Condo Resort.

 

On St. John, participating hotels include Coconut Coast Villas, Concordia Eco-Resort, Gallows Point Resort, The Westin St. John Resort Villas, and Vacation VI/SirenUSA.

 

Participating hotels on St. Thomas include Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Galleon House, Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, Windward Passage Hotel and Virgin Islands Campgrounds.

For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Twitter (@USVITourism) and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). 

When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.

U.S. Virgin Islands Offering Exceptional Savings For Summer And Fall 2016 Travel Including A 4th Free Night And $350 In Spending Credit

The United States Virgin Islands is offering a free night's stay along with spending credits for travel to St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas from June to October this year. 

The USVI Department of Tourism announced its 2016 Summer-Fall Promotion, which includes a fourth night free and $350 in spending credit. Travelers must book by July 16, 2016, and all travel must be completed between June 5 and October 15, 2016.

Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty thanked all travel partners for supporting the promotion, which will be backed by a cooperative marketing program of $150,000 with key tour operators and $350,000 in television and digital advertising.

  

"The United States Virgin Islands is nice all year round, but we are especially nice in the summer with lots of festivals, events and activities for travelers looking for a fabulous vacation value," said Nicholson-Doty. The Department of Tourism expects the promotion to drive more than $1.5 million in visitor expenditures through mid-October.

  

Participating hotels and resorts include:

St. Croix

The Buccaneer Hotel; Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix; Club St. Croix Beach Resort and Tennis Club; Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino; Holger Danske Hotel; Hotel Caravelle; Hotel on the Cay; Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort & Spa; Sand Castle on the Beach; Tamarind Reef Resort, Spa & Marina; and The Palms at Pelican Cove.

St. John

Caribbean Villas; Concordia Eco-Resort; Gallows Point Resort; Island Getaways; SIRENUSA Residences; and The Westin St. John Resort & Villas. 

St. Thomas

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort; Emerald Beach Resort; Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Resort; Galleon House Bed and Breakfast; Lindbergh Bay Hotel and Villas; Mafolie Hotel; Pavilions & Pools Villa Hotel; Sapphire Beach Condominium Resort; Sugar Bay Resort & Spa; The Green Iguana Hotel; and Windward Passage Hotel.

Participating tour operators and wholesalers include: American Airlines Vacations; Apple Vacations; Bookit.com; CheapCaribbean.com; Costco Travel; Expedia; Flight Center USA; MLT Vacations; and Travel Impressions.

For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Twitter (@USVITourism) and become a fan on Facebook  (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI).

When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.