The V.I. Tourism Department kicks off National Travel and Tourism Week (May 5-13) with a series of professional development seminars on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. The free seminars are open to anyone in the service industry interested in improving their service skills and knowledge of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Seminars on St. Thomas take place Monday at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Administrative and Conference Center.
On St. Croix, sessions are planned for Tuesday at the UVI Melvin Evans Center, room 401.
The schedule of seminars is as follows:
– 10 a.m.-noon – Customer Service Excellence;
– 1-2:30 p.m. – Our History & Culture;
– 3-4:30 p.m. – Our Natural Environment.
An additional Customer Service Excellence seminar has been scheduled on St. John on Monday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the St. Ursula’s Multipurpose Center in Cruz Bay.
“As Virgin Islanders it benefits us to be knowledgeable and proud of our own unique history, culture and natural resources,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty in a statement.
“These seminars help us to become more skilled at providing friendlier and more expert service that will enhance the experience of our visitors,” she said.
In addition to engaging employees of the service industry with training opportunities, Tourism is also reaching out to the V.I. business community by way of the Chamber of Commerce.
On May 10, Tourism will host a “Business After Hours” event on St. Croix at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility in Frederiksted and an event on St. Thomas at the Havensight Visitor Welcome Center.
Attendees at the St. Croix event will enjoy performances by Crucian Rhythms Band, the St. Croix Heritage Dancers and the Sleepless Jumbies. Guests on St. Thomas will be entertained by Milo’s Kings.
Both events are 5:30 to 7:30 pm and will give attendees the opportunity to meet with Tourism’s marketing team to learn more about partnership and marketing opportunities.
Throughout the week, Tourism representatives will visit schools, spreading the message about the importance of tourism to V.I. students, as well as share information about careers in hospitality at the USVI Hotel and Tourism Association Career Fair on May 9.
A group of high school students will also be busy preparing for the Junior Tourism Commissioner Competition, to be held May 19 on St. Croix. Organized by the Department of Tourism, the competition introduces students to the role of tourism in the economic development of the islands.
To reinforce its message about the importance of customer service to the success of our tourism industry, throughout the month of May the Department of Tourism is sponsoring a territory-wide television advertising campaign.
For more information about Tourism Week activities and to register for the seminars, call 774-8784 on St. Thomas-St. John or 772-0357 on St. Croix.
