U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SET TO LAUNCH MEETINGS & INCENTIVES PROMOTION
By Cathy O'Gara on 25th September, 2012
~Offer to be promoted during IMEX America 2012 in Las Vegas~
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, September 25, 2012 – As an incentive for corporate meeting and travel planners to book group visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands through 2013, the Department of Tourism will introduce a Meetings & Incentives Promotion next month that offers savings on hotel accommodations and group services. Tourism representatives will promote the offer at the IMEX America 2012 conference, which runs from October 9-11 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas.
Meeting planners who book their group’s stay at participating hotels will be entitled to the following discounts:
· $50 resort credit per room for groups staying three nights or longer or $75 resort credit per room for groups staying four nights or longer
· $25 per person credit on services from Destination Management Companies (DMC) for groups staying three nights or $40 DMC Credit per person for groups staying four nights or more
· Five percent discount on catering
· 10 percent discount on audio visual services
· Welcome gift bag for each guest
· Airport welcome featuring entertainment and a welcome banner with the group’s name
The Department of Tourism and DMC representatives will hold office for three days at IMEX America 2012 at a colorful, 400-square-foot USVI-branded booth to meet with and pitch the Meetings & Incentives Promotion to the 2,000-plus meeting and incentive travel planners and industry professionals in attendance.
“Comprising roughly 25 percent of all overnight visits to the Territory, the corporate meeting and incentive market is an important target in our overall growth strategy beyond the peak winter season,” said Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “Similar promotions that we’ve launched in the past have infused millions of dollars into the VI economy, directly benefiting our host hotels, transportation providers, island attractions and small businesses.”
The package applies to new bookings only and cannot be combined with any other offer. Hotels participating in the Meetings & Incentives Promotion include: Hotel Caravelle, The Palms at Pelican Cove and The Buccaneer on St. Croix; The Westin Resort on St. John; and Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Frenchman’s Reef Marriott and Sugar Bay Resort & Spa on St. Thomas.
To take advantage of the $25-$40 per person DMC credit, groups must book services through one of these participating DMCs: Caribbean Tour Services, Island Meetings & Incentives, Premier Destination Services, Resort Adventure Center, St. Croix Safari Tours or Tropic Tours.
To book the Meetings & Incentives Promotion, contact any of the participating hotels or Canika John at ccjohn@usvitourism.vi, (340) 774-8784.
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Contact: Allegra Kean-Moorehead
USVI Department of Tourism
Director of Communications
(340) 774-8784 ext. 2234
akmoorehead@usvitourism.vi
