Governor Mapp leads successful US Virgin Islands Mission to New York

Governor Mapp and Department of Tourism officials host special events, meet with top-tier media, including Bloomberg TV 

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (March 9, 2015) – Governor Kenneth E. Mapp and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism have concluded a strategic mission to New York to boost interest in the Territory.Led by Governor Mapp and Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty, meeting planners and buyers, media and Virgin Islands ambassadors were engaged in the various offerings of the Territory.

“We want to extend our appreciation to Governor Mapp for taking time out of his busy schedule to lead this mission to New York,” said Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “The Governor’s commitment to developing our tourism product is clear, and with his help, this mission was a successful way to promote the Territory’s unique offerings in our leading market.

To kick off the mission, Governor Mapp and Commissioner Nicholson-Doty hosted a luncheon targeting the meetings and incentives industry. The Governor launched the new “Procrastination Pays Off” rewards program, which incentivizes meeting and incentive planners who have not yet secured destinations for their 2015 programs to book locations in the Territory. The Governor also led an engaging discussion with attendees about the state of the meetings market in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Attendees included top New York-based planners, along with representatives from meetings focused media outlets.

Governor Mapp and Commissioner Nicholson-Doty also welcomed close to 100 journalists, meeting planners and Virgin Islands ambassadors for an evening reception. After an introduction by the Commissioner, Governor Mapp spoke about the importance of tourism to the U.S. Virgin Islands and improving the visitor experience. Attendees experienced a special performance by Virgin Islands carnival dancers, live Caribbean music and island-inspired hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

Governor Mapp addressing New Yorkers at an evening reception in Manhattan. Photo credit: Margot Jordan

The Governor and Commissioner also met face-to-face with top-tier New York-based media, including a live television interview on Bloomberg TV’s “Taking Stock with Pimm Fox,” where the Governor spoke about his vision for the Territory, including development projects, to a global audience. Commissioner Nicholson-Doty also shared news and story ideas with editors from several consumer travel and travel trade outlets.

“Tourism is of critical importance to our efforts to drive economic growth in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and this was a timely promotional mission given the harsh winter weather New Yorkers are currently experiencing,” said Governor Mapp.

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.

Article, images and video supplied by Bevan Springer  

Source: United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism