May 5, 2004 – Tune in to Knight Quality Stations any weekday next week and give a listen to the three "Tommy Starfish" jingles — and then vote for the one you like best.
The jingles will air throughout the day, Monday through Friday, on JAMZ/105 FM and during WVWI's "Morning Mix."
Tommy Starfish is the V.I. Hotel Association mascot. His likeness appears on directional signs around St. Thomas and on roadside maps, and he's a focus of the association's annual awards dinner.
"We are trying to develop a symbol of the island hospitality," Hotel Association president Beverly Nicholson said.
The winning jingle will be used to introduce Tommy at public events and in association awareness and advertising campaigns, she said.
Last year, the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel Association challenged students in the district to come up with a jingle to introduce Tommy, the organization's mascot. The youngsters were told to incorporate the theme "to smile V.I. style."
Music classes at Leonard Dober, Joseph Sibilly and J. Antonio Jarvis elementary schools, with the assistance of their music teachers, came up with the entries that a Hotel Association judging panel considered the best.
Nicholson said she was so impressed with all three jingles that she wanted the entire community to pick the best. "This is more about the children than the association," she said.
At some participating schools, Nicholson said, teachers had their students do research to get a better understanding of tourism to help with their jingle assignment.
Mark Bastin, Knight Quality Stations general manager, said the KQS stations agreed to participate to put the spotlight on children, schools and teachers that recognize the importance of tourism in the territory. "Our children are very talented, and we need to showcase their accomplishments," he said.
The students who submitted the three finalist jingles all will be guests of the hoteliers at a May 18 awards luncheon at Coral World. The winning class will receive a $1,000 prize.
Radio listener votes on the jingles should be faxed to Knight Quality Stations at 776-5337. Participants are required to provide a name and address and are asked to suggest three ways to improve the Virgin Islands welcome. Those who vote also will be eligible for prizes that include hotel stays and restaurant meals.
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