The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is reporting a successful week-long mission to New York City over the Labor Day holiday weekend, which included promotion of the Territory’s tourism offerings within the media (including Team RCS!) and directly to consumers throughout the city.
While in New York, Governor Kenneth Mapp and Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty visited media representatives from travel, lifestyle and finance outlets and other stakeholders to promote the Territory and share news related to tourism and economic development.
The mission began on Friday, September 4 with a live on-air appearance on Fox’s Good Day New York, during which Governor Mapp and Commissioner Nicholson-Doty shared the beauty and warmth of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Joining the Governor and Commissioner were Virgin Islands musician Pressure Busspipe and carnival dancers who gave viewers a taste of VI music and culture with a live performance of “Virgin Islands Nice”.
Later that day, the team had a strong presence at Yankee Stadium in the Delta SKY360º Suite. Throughout the evening, New York City-based Crucian chef Ralph Motta served up a Crispy Red Snapper Cake with Cilantro Aioli and Sweet Mango Salsa while Department of Tourism staff and carnival dancers interacted with fans about travel to the Virgin Islands.
Governor Mapp and Commissioner Nicholson-Doty hosted about 60 guests, a mix of media, meeting planners and other travel influencers. The U.S. Virgin Islands was promoted across the new Bronx stadium through digital advertising and a thrilled fan won a trip to the Territory.
The following day, nearly 200 journalists and Virgin Islanders boarded Hornblower Cruises for an evening sail on the Hudson River, which provided a networking opportunity for Virgin Islands Tourism Ambassadors and members of the media alike. The guests were entertained by St. Croix’s Ryan J and Friends, DJ RunTune, USVI carnival dancers and Pressure Busspipe, who delivered a surprise performance.
Pressure Busspipe, who participated in the West Indian American Day Carnival Association’s Brass Fest at the Brooklyn Museum on Friday night, also headlined Caribbean Cultural Fest at Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem on Sunday. The event, produced by Virgin Islanders United, drew thousands of attendees to celebrate VI and Caribbean culture. Representatives from the Department of Tourism were on hand to share branded premium items and support the event. Earlier that day, Governor Mapp worshiped at the historic Bridge Street AME Church in Brooklyn, where he delivered greetings to the congregation on behalf of his church home, as well as the people of the Virgin Islands.
On Monday morning, the Territory had a robust presence on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway, where Governor Mapp alongside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo kicked off the 48th edition of the West Indian American Labor Day parade, as grand marshals for the largest Caribbean carnival in North America.
Department of Tourism representatives, colorful carnival dancers and Virgin Islanders cheered on the Governor at the USVI booth between Bedford and Rogers Avenues, where the team spent several hours sharing and showcasing the culture of the Virgin Islands with hundreds of festival-goers.
The mission concluded with an all-day marketing meeting with the Department of Tourism’s senior staff and its public relations, marketing, and advertising representatives, who discussed initiatives for the launch of the 2015-2016 Marketing Plan for the Territory.
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.
