Though the island's holiday season been described as "disheartening," a sampling of some restaurants and smaller hotels has turned up surprisingly good news.
Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said that though Bolongo Beach Club, which he owns, is doing well for the holidays, he wished he could say the same for other hotels.
"We have a lot of repeat guests, about 95 percent, which will carry us over," he said. But most of the larger hotels are hurting, he added.
Doumeng said that tourism worldwide is suffering from the Y2K epidemic. Not only are people afraid to travel over New Year's because of possible computer glitches in air travel, but many are not allowed to travel.
"Not only emergency personnel, but bank tellers, stock brokers, any number of public service industries don't want their employees away when they may be urgently needed at home," he said.
Add to this the recent terrorism threats at Canadian borders to the United States and that just increases the reluctance or impossibility of traveling for many potential visitors.
In the Virgin Islands this is a particular blow after the past two hurricanes and their adverse publicity.
However, in spite of these problems, it looks like a lot of people are still coming here to have their sun and sand.
Lyn Eden of Mafolie Hotel said her hotel's bookings don't seem too affected by the millennium bug.
"We have had very few cancellations," she said. "I called up all our reservations after Hurricane Lenny and assured them St. Thomas was doing fine, so this no doubt helped."
The Island Beachcomber has been running about 75 percent occupancy for the holiday season, said Bill Wagner, reservations manager. Many of their guests arrive without reservations because of the hotel's proximity to the Cyril E. King Airport.
Emerald Beach Resort, also near the airport, is doing a "little better than last year," according to Kanema Ayala, reservations manager. She said the hotel has had some cancellations, but she could not directly attribute them to Y2K concerns.
Though many of the larger hotels' spokespersons could not be reached for comment, one hotelier quite easily contacted was Brian Young, managing director of Caneel Bay Inc. on St. John. Asked about cancellations because of Y2K worries, Young said he's seen "none whatsoever."
"We have reservations months in advance for the holiday season, and they are all either here or arriving," he happily noted.
On the restaurant scene, the news is basically up. Liz Buckalew of Banana Tree Grille in Bluebeard's Hotel said, "It's been great, more than last year." She said up to Christmas Eve, bookings had been slow, but now it's moving right along.
"Christmas Eve was full, about two-thirds tourists, and we're booked right through the end of the year," she said.
At Hook, Line & Sinker in Frenchtown, Becky Luscz also said bookings had been slow, but "Christmas Eve was wonderful. We were totally booked with mostly local people — a lot coming back from church services."
Craig Barash of Craig and Sally's, also in Frenchtown, said his business is booming. "We're doing better than I expected, even allowing for the Y2K problem."
Mary Davis of the Danish Chalet said she too is pleased. The guest house has only one room available for New Year's.
"Maybe it's because of our web advertising," she said.
Davis and her husband, Frank, have been running a unique contest to sell their guest house.
The mood among restaurateurs seems to be one of apprehension — but happy apprehension.
"I have a feeling that this upsurge since Christmas will run through January," Banana Tree Grille's Buckalew said. "I like to think that season has started."
Davis expressed the same sentiment. She said the Chalet's booking are solid through January, and she hopes that's a trend.
Many hoteliers are just waiting until after the first of the year to assess what will happen. As is the rest of the world.
