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B M & T ••• January/February 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 41 L ooking for an unforgettable locale for your next business retreat or conference? Then check out the beautiful and accessible island of St. Croix. The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this gem of an island offers unique meeting spaces, as well as numerous activities and incentives for groups wanting to com- bine both luxury and relaxation as part of a meeting itinerary. Whether your interest is golfing, snorkeling, sightseeing, history or shopping, St. Croix offers something for every business traveler. I recently packed my bags for a four day journey and came away impressed by St. Croix's unique accommodations, breathtaking sights, and savory cuisine. And despite a recent blow to the island's economy due to the closure of its main oil refinery and tourism numbers recently down because of the US economy, Brad Nugent, assistant commissioner of tourism noted, "We are continuously optimistic because we are seeing the U.S. economy steadily growing. There is a key interest in back to traveling." Originally inhabited in the 1400s by the Tainos or Arawaks, Native indigenous people, St. Croix was initially named Santa Cruz, or Holy Cross, by Christopher Columbus who visited the island on his second voyage to The New World in 1493 in the name of Spain. According to history, Columbus and his men anchored off a natural bay west of Christiansted, known as the Salt River. There they were met by Caribs, Indians armed with bows and arrows. The Caribs later devel- oped a friendlier relationship with the Spanish of Puerto Rico, until a Spanish adventurer raided the Caribs for slaves. Later, the Dutch and English, with a small number of French Protestants would co-exist on St. Croix until the island's Dutch governor would kill his English counterpart. The English retaliated, and for years would battle for possession of the island. In later years, the French would gain control. In 1773, the Danish West Indies Company would purchase St. Croix from the French and give St. Croix its own government separate from St. Thomas and St. John. With Denmark's role in the slave trade, St. Croix became one of the wealthiest islands in the West Indies, its prosperity mainly due to sugar cultivation, rum production and slave labor. In 1917, for military reasons, the U.S. purchased St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John from Denmark for $25 million, and its main industries today are tourism and agriculture. During my visit, I set off to explore St. Croix's colorful history, learning why more than 700,000 tourists visit St. Croix each year. I landed at Henry Rohlsen Airport and was welcomed by a lively band and dancers in traditional St. Croix attire, then checked into the stunning Buccaneer Hotel and Resort, the site where ABC's "The Bachelor" filmed for 6 weeks. Family-owned and operated since 1948, the resort's history dates back to 1653 when Charles Martel, a Knight of Malta, built a manor house and tobacco and indigo plantation on the present-day site. The manor house's thick walls and graceful bonnet arches are still visible in the resort's main building. A sugar mill dating to the early 1700s sits near the resort's entrance, and is a favorite for weddings and receptions. T R AV E L I N G T H E G L O B E LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE MEETING SPACE? CHECK OUT BEAUTIFUL ST. CROIX Saman Terrace at Renaissance Carambola Resort BY EDITH BILUPS •pg_40-45__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/14 4:55 PM Page 41