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Couple Kayaking, USVI choose isolation it’s yours for the taking. The USVI has all the beauty of the Caribbean and the conveniences of the United States. English is the official lan- guage, the currency is the U.S. dollar and all electrical products are the same as those on the mainland. Passports are not required for U.S. citizens. In addition to the golfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding and sightseeing, St Thomas in particular is known for shopping along Main Street in the capital city of Charlotte Amalie. U.S. citizens can spend up to $1,600 duty- free, double that of other Caribbean island destinations. Ok, what about the meetings and con- ventions? On St Thomas you have sev- eral wonderful properties to choose from including The Ritz-Carlton, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa and the Windward Passage. These prop- erties are perfect for small gatherings of 500 or less. And don’t forget to ask about setting up events and meetings outdoors, this is after all the tropics. Here are some tips to help meeting planners navigate the Caribbean. First let’s dispel the myth of “difficul- ty.” I’ve heard them all and most are not true. You know what I’m talking about — it’s too difficult to plan, or its too expensive, or we can’t get our equipment into the country. The lists of excuses are endless. Pre-planning is mandatory, just as you 52 would any other event — our advice, start early. Don’t wait until six months before and try to rush things through as if you were doing your event in the U.S. That is a disaster in the making. Think of materials or supplies that need to be shipped. Each country has different customs rules and regulations in regards shipping items. The local tourism boards, convention and visitors bureaus and all hotel sales staffs know the requirements and will make this process as smooth as possible. Part of the planning stage should also include time for your members to obtain passports. While the USVI does not require one all other coun- tries of the world do, and in this day and age why wouldn’t you have one? Looking to save a little money, all countries mentioned in this article and several others in Caribbean nations are participants in the Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA), which means your event is tax deductible as if you held your gathering right here on American soil. The timing of your event could also lead to incredible savings. Low or off- peak season in the Caribbean is actu- ally over the summer in large measure because it’s also hurricane season. If you have a little flexibility this is a great time to save money on hotels. A second option is shoulder season — May, June, October or November. Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the southern Caribbean are outside the hurricane belt making them year- round destinations. All meeting planners should have insurance to protect them against the unforeseen weather problems, just make sure your policy includes hurri- cane coverage. The most difficult time is December to April, the height of tourist season. If you are fortunate enough to locate a great property at this time you will pay dearly not just for the hotel but airfare as well. If you must go at this time of year shop around, there may be pock- ets of times within high season where you can cut a deal. Also beware that expatriates who live in the Caribbean typically travel home during June and July and could affect the availability of air travel. If you are wondering how Trinidad and Tobago has captured the attention of the world and played host to so many events, the answer is simple. Representatives of this magazine have attended dozens of meetings and con- ventions all over the world in recent years and the people of Trinidad and Tobago have been at almost all of them promoting their destination as only the proud people of their nation can. Hurry, your gathering in paradise awaits you. Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Photo Credit: USVI Board of Tourism