Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/999395
TOURISM COMMISSIONER TELLS PARTNERS USVI OPEN FOR BUSINESS Commissioner Nicholson-Doty Meets With Media and Airline Representatives in Atlanta, Chicago and New York B M & T ••• May/June 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 38 U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty continues to make audiences across the U.S. mainland and the globe aware that the Territory is open for business. Addressing a broad range of consumers and industry stakehold- ers over the past week in Atlanta, Chicago and New York, Commissioner Nicholson-Doty thanked partners for their support of the U.S. Virgin Islands during the ongoing recovery process and suggested that the best way to continue helping the U.S. Virgin Islands is to visit the Territory. Recently, the Commissioner addressed close to 200 delegates attending the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Region III Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and thanked the media for keeping St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas in the spotlight since last September's storms. While in Atlanta, Commissioner Nicholson-Doty participated in a live on-air segment with Lynda Kinkade on CNN International's CNN Newsroom, where she gave a comprehen- sive update on the U.S. Virgin Islands' recovery. "We have several hotels that have reopened ... our yachting indus- try is absolutely glorious and we have wonderful villas. However, it is a journey ... we will have more hotels opening at the end of the year and as we look towards the future we really feel that we're going to have an even better tourism product," the Commissioner told national and worldwide listeners tuned into the popular news pro- gram. During her in-market travels she also met with journalists from the Chicago Sun-Times, the New York Daily News, and TravelPulse. CARIBBEAN CORNER At a meeting with United Airlines in Chicago, the Commissioner, who was accompanied by David Mapp, executive director of the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA), provided updates on the Territory's accommodations and tourism offerings. She reconfirmed that United was resuming service to St. Thomas from Newark, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The airline is also recommencing flights to St. Thomas from Houston, and providing daily flights from Washington Dulles International Airport this summer between early June and late August. The Commissioner and Executive Director held similar talks with JetBlue Airways in New York and attended an airline training program in the city. "As we bounce back, it's critically important that we update our partners on the significant progress we are making, while taking the necessary steps to ensure that flights return as more accommodations become available," Commissioner Nicholson-Doty said. "Power has been restored across the Territory, our beaches and attractions have reopened, cruise lines and airlines have returned and a wide variety of accommodations are available even as our rebuilding and resiliency work continues," she reported, affirming that the "USVI is Still Nice". Pictured above from left: JetBlue Airways' Jack Massey and Dylan Kleopfer, Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director David Mapp, Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty and JetBlue's Eric Tanner in New York this week. ABOUT THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow them on Instagram@visituvi 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.