DOT OUTLINES MARKETING INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CRUCIAN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

Keyvil King’s winning artwork.

DOT OUTLINES MARKETING INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CRUCIAN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

To generate interest and bookings to St. Croix for this year’s Festival, the Department has launched The St. Croix Festival 60th Anniversary Celebration package which is available exclusively through US Airways Vacations and American Airlines Vacations.

Travelers who book the package will save $400 on their airfare and hotel accommodations package, and upon hotel check-in, will receive a $50 dining certificate and a Festival gift bag filled with commemorative 60th Anniversary souvenirs. The package is available for booking now through December 1 for travel between December 27, 2012 and January 12, 2013.

“The 60th Anniversary of the St. Croix Festival is shaping up to be one of the grandest events in Festival history,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “In support of Crucian Festival we want to invite the world to visit St. Croix for this milestone occasion to experience the best of VI culture while enjoying our resorts, beaches, duty-free shopping and world-class attractions.”

To promote the offer the Department of Tourism launched an advertising campaign in east coast African American and Caribbean newspapers that will run through November 14. The Department has also forged an exclusive digital partnership with TravelZoo to promote the offer on its web site. St. Croix is currently featured as the Travel Zoo “Destination of the Week” with a custom page that includes details of the promotion, images and links to the USVI site. Consumers can access the microsite through Top 20 Deal Search until November 30.

Once on island both visitors and locals can enjoy a special evening of entertainment in the Festival Village on December 30 sponsored by the Department of Tourism in honor of the 60th anniversary. The lineup includes the Rising Stars Steel Pan Orchestra, performances by Quelbe and old time scratch bands, cultural dancers performing Quadrille, Latin, Dominican and St. Lucian dance routines.

Music in Motion dance troupe as well as the Sleepless Mocko Jumbies will entertain before the evening tops off with the Lashing Dogs Band. Local radio personalities DJ Pops and Rashidi will rally the crowds with more music, and USVI-branded giveaways, while fashion lovers will enjoy the cultural wear queen fashion show planned during the evening.

“In the true spirit of the Festival and bringing people together to celebrate our diverse culture, we’re arranging a fantastic show that highlights Quelbe, the official music of the USVI, in addition to other music and dance performances from around the Caribbean,” said Nicholson-Doty. “We invite the entire community down to the Village for this evening of music, dance, fashion and camaraderie.”

To mark the 60th Anniversary, and engage young Virgin Islanders in the celebration, the Department also organized a poster contest inviting students ages 14-18 to illustrate what the Crucian Festival means to them. The Department of Tourism is now pleased to announce the winner of the contest, Ms. Keyvil Alexis King, a 10th grader at Manor School on St. Croix. Ms. King will be awarded $500 while her school will receive a $500 donation for use by the art department. A limited edition poster will be professionally printed with the winning art to help promote the Festival events.

For more information about The St. Croix Festival 60th Anniversary Celebration package visithttp://www.visitusvi.com/package_and_promotions.

Contact: Allegra Kean-Moorehead
USVI Department of Tourism
Director of Communications
(340) 774-8784 ext. 2234
akmoorehead@usvitourism.vi