March 28, 2002 – This year's stand-alone Rolex Regatta, newly independent of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle, has attracted an international fleet of 78 boats that will race in 12 classes, including the locally popular new IC-24 class, a hybrid of a J/24 and a Melges 24 home grown in the Virgin Islands.
The competition, hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club, opens Friday. The forecast is for light air over the next three days
"We'll deal with it as we have to," the event's new principal race officer, Peter Reggio, said Thursday, after the lack of air forced cancellation of a pre-regatta event, the inaugural USVI Governor's Race. The race trophies instead will be awarded to the winners of the official first day of Rolex racing. Only two races in the history of the Rolex have been canceled due to light air.
Boats with local track records to watch this weekend include:
– Tortola entry Mermaid II, Bill Berardelli's Custom 40, which was the top winner overall in the first and second CORT contests — the St. Croix International Regatta in February and the Heineken International Regatta in Puerto Rico two weeks ago. (The series will conclude with the BVI Spring Regatta April 5-7 on Berardelli's home surf.)
– St. Thomas entry Magnificent 7, Rolex veteran John Foster's J/27, which finished third overall in the St. Croix regatta and second in class in the Heineken contest.
– St. Croix entry Jersey Devil, Scott and Peter Stanton's J/24, which won its class in the Heineken Regatta.
The Rolex field includes 10 boats racing in the newe IC-24 Class, seven in the Melges 24-J/80 Class, seven in the J/24 Class, three in the Racing Over 50 Foot Class, seven in the Spinnaker Racing Class 1, seven in the Spinnaker Racing Class 2, seven in the Spinnaker Racer Cruiser Class 1, six in the Spinnaker Racer Cruiser Class 2, 10 in the Beach Cats Class 1, six in the Beach Cats Class 2, three in the Non-Spinnaker Racing Class, and five in the Fun Class – Jib & Main (no pole).
There are 30 boats competing from St. Thomas (a couple of them with dual homeports), 24 from Puerto Rico, five each from St. Croix and the BVI, two from Antigua and one each from Sint Maarten; Curacao; Caracas, Venezuela: St. Augustine, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; Campton, New Hampshire; St. Claire Shores, Mich.; Herts, Southampton and Spedding, England; Glasgow, Scotland; and Rimini, Italy.
According to a Rolex release prepared for international distribution, "Among the returning favorites are big-boat entrants James Muldoon of Washington, D.C., with his Custom 73 turbo sled Donnybrook and Puerto Rico's Tom Hill, who brings his new Titan XI, also a sled (an Andrews 70) to the mix. Bill Alcott's Equation, a Santa Cruz 68, which he says may have difficulty keeping up with the others, may still be one to watch. Alcott, from St. Claire Shores, Michigan, won his class last year at the regatta with this boat."
The release quotes Alcott as saying of last year's win, "I got lucky. The other big boats started messing around with each other, and I just did my own thing. You have to consider that my boat was built to sail to class rules, and the sleds were not. They have 40 percent more sail area than I do, so I know what I'm up against."
For this year's running of the Rolex, an impressive number of local sailors who were competing in the early years are still at the wheel. Among them: Foster, Dick Johnson, Bill Canfield, Lyn Reid, Nick Bailey, Chris Rosenberg, Mike Williams and John Holmberg from St. Thomas; and Hill from Puerto Rico.
"Revered for its keen racing and a festive atmosphere, the International Rolex Regatta is celebrating its 29th year as an Easter weekend racing tradition in the Virgin Islands," the Rolex release states. "The Governor's Race was added as one of several enhancements to the regatta, which also includes an expanded social schedule that interfaces more closely with the island's community."
The top winner in each of the 12 classes will receive a Rolex watch at an awards ceremony to follow the third day of racing — Sunday, if all goes well.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – This year's stand-alone Rolex Regatta, newly independent of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle, has attracted an international fleet of 78 boats that will race in 12 classes, including the locally popular new IC-24 class, a hybrid of a J/24 and a Melges 24 home grown in the Virgin Islands.
The competition, hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club, opens Friday. The forecast is for light air over the next three days
"We'll deal with it as we have to," the event's new principal race officer, Peter Reggio, said Thursday, after the lack of air forced cancellation of a pre-regatta event, the inaugural USVI Governor's Race. The race trophies instead will be awarded to the winners of the official first day of Rolex racing. Only two races in the history of the Rolex have been canceled due to light air.
Boats with local track records to watch this weekend include:
– Tortola entry Mermaid II, Bill Berardelli's Custom 40, which was the top winner overall in the first and second CORT contests — the St. Croix International Regatta in February and the Heineken International Regatta in Puerto Rico two weeks ago. (The series will conclude with the BVI Spring Regatta April 5-7 on Berardelli's home surf.)
– St. Thomas entry Magnificent 7, Rolex veteran John Foster's J/27, which finished third overall in the St. Croix regatta and second in class in the Heineken contest.
– St. Croix entry Jersey Devil, Scott and Peter Stanton's J/24, which won its class in the Heineken Regatta.
The Rolex field includes 10 boats racing in the newe IC-24 Class, seven in the Melges 24-J/80 Class, seven in the J/24 Class, three in the Racing Over 50 Foot Class, seven in the Spinnaker Racing Class 1, seven in the Spinnaker Racing Class 2, seven in the Spinnaker Racer Cruiser Class 1, six in the Spinnaker Racer Cruiser Class 2, 10 in the Beach Cats Class 1, six in the Beach Cats Class 2, three in the Non-Spinnaker Racing Class, and five in the Fun Class – Jib & Main (no pole).
There are 30 boats competing from St. Thomas (a couple of them with dual homeports), 24 from Puerto Rico, five each from St. Croix and the BVI, two from Antigua and one each from Sint Maarten; Curacao; Caracas, Venezuela: St. Augustine, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; Campton, New Hampshire; St. Claire Shores, Mich.; Herts, Southampton and Spedding, England; Glasgow, Scotland; and Rimini, Italy.
According to a Rolex release prepared for international distribution, "Among the returning favorites are big-boat entrants James Muldoon of Washington, D.C., with his Custom 73 turbo sled Donnybrook and Puerto Rico's Tom Hill, who brings his new Titan XI, also a sled (an Andrews 70) to the mix. Bill Alcott's Equation, a Santa Cruz 68, which he says may have difficulty keeping up with the others, may still be one to watch. Alcott, from St. Claire Shores, Michigan, won his class last year at the regatta with this boat."
The release quotes Alcott as saying of last year's win, "I got lucky. The other big boats started messing around with each other, and I just did my own thing. You have to consider that my boat was built to sail to class rules, and the sleds were not. They have 40 percent more sail area than I do, so I know what I'm up against."
For this year's running of the Rolex, an impressive number of local sailors who were competing in the early years are still at the wheel. Among them: Foster, Dick Johnson, Bill Canfield, Lyn Reid, Nick Bailey, Chris Rosenberg, Mike Williams and John Holmberg from St. Thomas; and Hill from Puerto Rico.
"Revered for its keen racing and a festive atmosphere, the International Rolex Regatta is celebrating its 29th year as an Easter weekend racing tradition in the Virgin Islands," the Rolex release states. "The Governor's Race was added as one of several enhancements to the regatta, which also includes an expanded social schedule that interfaces more closely with the island's community."
The top winner in each of the 12 classes will receive a Rolex watch at an awards ceremony to follow the third day of racing — Sunday, if all goes well.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – The Source doesn't necessarily know exactly where the Easter eggs are, but we can point you and your children in the right direction to places all over the islands where eggs are being hidden. Lots of other good play and fun will be going on along with egg hunts.
Rotary Club of Charlotte Amalie's hiding eggs at the University of the Virgin Islands Reichhold parking grounds. The festivities are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and there'll be much more than the Easter Egg Hunt: celebrity ducking, horseshoes, an auto show, games of all sorts – and the Grand Egg Race. Since all the eggs are being hidden, the Grand Egg Race is going to feature 5,000 golf balls. Proceeds of this family event will benefit several local charities. There's more about this event in a Source article in Things to Do.
Moms are hiding eggs – quite naturally. After all, who's best at passing on the Easter traditions, boiling eggs and helping the kids decorate them, filling the surprise Easter baskets. Four moms in particular – Holly Palm, Amy Tayler, Tina Olive and Marines Fisher – are hiding eggs in the palm grove and the beach at Magens Bay, and you can go to hunt for them at 10 a.m. Saturday. This is their fourth year, and they expect about a hundred hunters. This year will also feature an Easter bunny who will sit the kids on his lap – do you think he got confused about his role? These moms have come corporate sponsors this year – A. H. Riise, St. Thomas Dairy, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Diamonds International, Frigate restaurant, CoolSigns, Bellows International and West Indies Corp.
The governor's been hiding Easter eggs – at least Gov. Charles Turnbull's annual Children's East Egg Hunt is on for all three islands. The St. Croix search will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Agricultural Station in Lower Love, recently renamed The Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agricultural Station, according to an email release.
The Governor's St. John hunt will be at 2 p.m. at the Battery, Cruz Bay.
On St. Thomas, the hunt will be held on the grounds of the UVI golf course from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday. "Children of all ages" are invited, for there'll be bag races, lime and spoon races, and more.
Somebody's hiding eggs at Tutu Park Mall, and you can go look for theirs from noon to 4 p.m. The Easter bunny's going to hop on over there, too, and pose for a picture with you. E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary School's Music Department will perform while the egg hunt goes on.
The National Guard Readiness Group's hiding eggs. Come to the East End armory from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for the egg hunt, egg painting, games, snacks and more fun.
Nobody's hiding eggs at Coral World, but they have lots of special Easter activities anyway. The marine park is open all weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and Sunday will be full of special events. There'll be face painting and mini baskets of candy and other goodies. Here you can have your picture taken with a tropical bird. Or you can sit beside the duck pond and watch a couple of pintail ducklings growing old enough to fly. More about this event in a Source Things to Do article, too.
Eggs are being hidden at the Tiny Tot Playground in Smith Bay, and you can go there to hunt for them from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. Sponsors St. Thomas East End Lions Club and the V.I. Water and Power Authority promise rides, games, races, food and music.
And if you'd prefer to do your searching in nature, the V.I. National Park can still accommodate you on the Reef Bay Trail hike Good Friday: enjoy lots of birds and hike in the cool shade of overhanging trees.
And if you'd prefer a metaphorical search, check out the Cosmic News column in the Source's section on Lifestyles / Advice: it'll show you how to locate the Rabbit in the Full Moon. Campers at Cramer's Park on St. Croix ought to check out the sky.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – The Source doesn't necessarily know exactly where the Easter eggs are, but we can point you and your children in the right direction to places all over the islands where eggs are being hidden. Lots of other good play and fun will be going on along with egg hunts.
Rotary Club of Charlotte Amalie's hiding eggs at the University of the Virgin Islands Reichhold parking grounds. The festivities are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and there'll be much more than the Easter Egg Hunt: celebrity ducking, horseshoes, an auto show, games of all sorts – and the Grand Egg Race. Since all the eggs are being hidden, the Grand Egg Race is going to feature 5,000 golf balls. Proceeds of this family event will benefit several local charities. There's more about this event in a Source article in Things to Do.
Moms are hiding eggs – quite naturally. After all, who's best at passing on the Easter traditions, boiling eggs and helping the kids decorate them, filling the surprise Easter baskets. Four moms in particular – Holly Palm, Amy Tayler, Tina Olive and Marines Fisher – are hiding eggs in the palm grove and the beach at Magens Bay, and you can go to hunt for them at 10 a.m. Saturday. This is their fourth year, and they expect about a hundred hunters. This year will also feature an Easter bunny who will sit the kids on his lap – do you think he got confused about his role? These moms have come corporate sponsors this year – A. H. Riise, St. Thomas Dairy, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Diamonds International, Frigate restaurant, CoolSigns, Bellows International and West Indies Corp.
The governor's been hiding Easter eggs – at least Gov. Charles Turnbull's annual Children's East Egg Hunt is on for all three islands. The St. Croix search will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Agricultural Station in Lower Love, recently renamed The Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agricultural Station, according to an email release.
The Governor's St. John hunt will be at 2 p.m. at the Battery, Cruz Bay.
On St. Thomas, the hunt will be held on the grounds of the UVI golf course from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday. "Children of all ages" are invited, for there'll be bag races, lime and spoon races, and more.
Somebody's hiding eggs at Tutu Park Mall, and you can go look for theirs from noon to 4 p.m. The Easter bunny's going to hop on over there, too, and pose for a picture with you. E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary School's Music Department will perform while the egg hunt goes on.
The National Guard Readiness Group's hiding eggs. Come to the East End armory from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for the egg hunt, egg painting, games, snacks and more fun.
Nobody's hiding eggs at Coral World, but they have lots of special Easter activities anyway. The marine park is open all weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and Sunday will be full of special events. There'll be face painting and mini baskets of candy and other goodies. Here you can have your picture taken with a tropical bird. Or you can sit beside the duck pond and watch a couple of pintail ducklings growing old enough to fly. More about this event in a Source Things to Do article, too.
Eggs are being hidden at the Tiny Tot Playground in Smith Bay, and you can go there to hunt for them from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. Sponsors St. Thomas East End Lions Club and the V.I. Water and Power Authority promise rides, games, races, food and music.
And if you'd prefer to do your searching in nature, the V.I. National Park can still accommodate you on the Reef Bay Trail hike Good Friday: enjoy lots of birds and hike in the cool shade of overhanging trees.
And if you'd prefer a metaphorical search, check out the Cosmic News column in the Source's section on Lifestyles / Advice: it'll show you how to locate the Rabbit in the Full Moon. Campers at Cramer's Park on St. Croix ought to check out the sky.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – The Source doesn't necessarily know exactly where the Easter eggs are, but we can point you and your children in the right direction to places all over the islands where eggs are being hidden. Lots of other good play and fun will be going on along with egg hunts.
Rotary Club of Charlotte Amalie's hiding eggs at the University of the Virgin Islands Reichhold parking grounds. The festivities are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and there'll be much more than the Easter Egg Hunt: celebrity ducking, horseshoes, an auto show, games of all sorts – and the Grand Egg Race. Since all the eggs are being hidden, the Grand Egg Race is going to feature 5,000 golf balls. Proceeds of this family event will benefit several local charities. There's more about this event in a Source article in Things to Do.
Moms are hiding eggs – quite naturally. After all, who's best at passing on the Easter traditions, boiling eggs and helping the kids decorate them, filling the surprise Easter baskets. Four moms in particular – Holly Palm, Amy Tayler, Tina Olive and Marines Fisher – are hiding eggs in the palm grove and the beach at Magens Bay, and you can go to hunt for them at 10 a.m. Saturday. This is their fourth year, and they expect about a hundred hunters. This year will also feature an Easter bunny who will sit the kids on his lap – do you think he got confused about his role? These moms have come corporate sponsors this year – A. H. Riise, St. Thomas Dairy, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Diamonds International, Frigate restaurant, CoolSigns, Bellows International and West Indies Corp.
The governor's been hiding Easter eggs – at least Gov. Charles Turnbull's annual Children's East Egg Hunt is on for all three islands. The St. Croix search will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Agricultural Station in Lower Love, recently renamed The Rudolph Schulterbrandt Agricultural Station, according to an email release.
The Governor's St. John hunt will be at 2 p.m. at the Battery, Cruz Bay.
On St. Thomas, the hunt will be held on the grounds of the UVI golf course from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday. "Children of all ages" are invited, for there'll be bag races, lime and spoon races, and more.
Somebody's hiding eggs at Tutu Park Mall, and you can go look for theirs from noon to 4 p.m. The Easter bunny's going to hop on over there, too, and pose for a picture with you. E. Benjamin Oliver Elementary School's Music Department will perform while the egg hunt goes on.
The National Guard Readiness Group's hiding eggs. Come to the East End armory from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for the egg hunt, egg painting, games, snacks and more fun.
Nobody's hiding eggs at Coral World, but they have lots of special Easter activities anyway. The marine park is open all weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and Sunday will be full of special events. There'll be face painting and mini baskets of candy and other goodies. Here you can have your picture taken with a tropical bird. Or you can sit beside the duck pond and watch a couple of pintail ducklings growing old enough to fly. More about this event in a Source Things to Do article, too.
Eggs are being hidden at the Tiny Tot Playground in Smith Bay, and you can go there to hunt for them from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. Sponsors St. Thomas East End Lions Club and the V.I. Water and Power Authority promise rides, games, races, food and music.
And if you'd prefer to do your searching in nature, the V.I. National Park can still accommodate you on the Reef Bay Trail hike Good Friday: enjoy lots of birds and hike in the cool shade of overhanging trees.
And if you'd prefer a metaphorical search, check out the Cosmic News column in the Source's section on Lifestyles / Advice: it'll show you how to locate the Rabbit in the Full Moon. Campers at Cramer's Park on St. Croix ought to check out the sky.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – Except for a few pockets on St. Thomas and St. Croix, it looks like the Easter Bunny brought plenty of visitors to the territory for the last of the winter season's big holiday weekends.
"We are busy, busy," said Julie Aleman, manager at the St. John Inn.
She said that she had two sets of guests leave early, but within 20 minutes walk-ins had filled the vacant rooms.
Caneel Bay Resort is filled up, and while the Westin Resort still has a few rooms available for Saturday, operations manager Graeme Davis said the hotel will run about 95 percent occupancy next week.
This winter, St. John hotels fared better than properties on St. Thomas and St. Croix, but many hoteliers across the territory said the winter turned out much better than they expected in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"It was not a banner year, but better than we had feared," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman at the Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix.
The Buccaneer has been filled up all week, with one night this week seeing even the last least-desirable room occupied.
Goodier said so many rooms are filled with families that the hotel's kids' camp has 60 participants at the moment. The hotel hires local high school students on spring break to serve as camp counselors. This provides jobs for the young people, she said, and also provides a way for the visiting children to learn about island culture. And, it leaves their parents free to do what they want unencumbered by their offspring.
Goodier said things will slow down for the next couple of weeks but pick up at the beginning of May for the St. Croix Half-Ironman Triathlon.
Divi Carina Bay Resort's $99 special local rate for Saturday and Sunday night has helped fill its rooms, but manager Bob Siefert said the hotel has plenty of off-island visitors, too. "They're playing, eating, drinking and spending money," he said, noting that a group of 30 had just headed off for a daysail to Buck Island.
Siefert put the hotel's occupancy at about 85 percent, which he said will continue into early next week. The Divi, too, has a lot of families, including free-spending teens, he said.
The small Pink Fancy Hotel hasn't fared as well this weekend as the larger St. Croix properties. With occupancy running about 50 percent, owner David Miller said the hotel was doing about the same as last year this time. "I'm not complaining," he said.
On St. Thomas, the small Island View Guest House had a similar story. Owner Norman Leater said the hotel has about a 60 percent occupancy for Easter, but it drops off to about 20 percent next week.
In contrast, the territory's largest property, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, is having a banner week. "We're sold out, and a lot of our counterparts are sold out," general manager Jayne Hiller said.
At the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, manager David Yamada said the hotel is about 95 percent occupied. "Lots of great deals on packages and the American sale have been helpful," he said.
Hiller, who is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, and many other hoteliers said that many guests booked within the last month. Some, like Leater, even have arrivals call from the airport looking for a room. "It's not like it was 15 years ago," he said, referring to an era when hotels were booked up months in advance.
Siefert said the Internet has been a big boon for bookings, and at least half the hotel's reservations come about because of information found online. While travelers may call the hotel's reservations office once they've done their homework on the web, they're already convinced before they make the call that the Divi is where they want to stay.
While most hotels are doing well this weekend, their guests may be spending less on extras. Caneel Bay manager Brian Young said the resort's gift shop now sells more T-shirts and souvenirs than it used, and guests aren't buying as much high-end merchandise as they used to. And he said that while guests used to eat three times at Turtle Bay, the hotel's most expensive restaurant, they now eat there twice and go to an off-property restaurant or eat in the hotel's bar for the third meal.
Marty Pickholtz, owner of Prime Foods on St. Thomas agrees. His wholesale company sells to many of the island's restaurants. He said the less-expensive restaurants seem to be doing better than the higher-price ones. "People can fill up on a burger and chips as well as a rack of lamb dinner," Pickholtz said.
On the retail side, Nanda Dadlani, an owner of The English Shop on St. Thomas, said that some tourists don't buy the more expensive china and crystal, but they don't buy the inexpensive souvenirs, either. "They just come in and look," she said.
At the Fabric Mill on St. John, owner Trish Capuano said the entire winter season has been good. "The tourists seem to be here, and they're really buying," she said.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – Except for a few pockets on St. Thomas and St. Croix, it looks like the Easter Bunny brought plenty of visitors to the territory for the last of the winter season's big holiday weekends.
"We are busy, busy," said Julie Aleman, manager at the St. John Inn.
She said that she had two sets of guests leave early, but within 20 minutes walk-ins had filled the vacant rooms.
Caneel Bay Resort is filled up, and while the Westin Resort still has a few rooms available for Saturday, operations manager Graeme Davis said the hotel will run about 95 percent occupancy next week.
This winter, St. John hotels fared better than properties on St. Thomas and St. Croix, but many hoteliers across the territory said the winter turned out much better than they expected in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"It was not a banner year, but better than we had feared," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman at the Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix.
The Buccaneer has been filled up all week, with one night this week seeing even the last least-desirable room occupied.
Goodier said so many rooms are filled with families that the hotel's kids' camp has 60 participants at the moment. The hotel hires local high school students on spring break to serve as camp counselors. This provides jobs for the young people, she said, and also provides a way for the visiting children to learn about island culture. And, it leaves their parents free to do what they want unencumbered by their offspring.
Goodier said things will slow down for the next couple of weeks but pick up at the beginning of May for the St. Croix Half-Ironman Triathlon.
Divi Carina Bay Resort's $99 special local rate for Saturday and Sunday night has helped fill its rooms, but manager Bob Siefert said the hotel has plenty of off-island visitors, too. "They're playing, eating, drinking and spending money," he said, noting that a group of 30 had just headed off for a daysail to Buck Island.
Siefert put the hotel's occupancy at about 85 percent, which he said will continue into early next week. The Divi, too, has a lot of families, including free-spending teens, he said.
The small Pink Fancy Hotel hasn't fared as well this weekend as the larger St. Croix properties. With occupancy running about 50 percent, owner David Miller said the hotel was doing about the same as last year this time. "I'm not complaining," he said.
On St. Thomas, the small Island View Guest House had a similar story. Owner Norman Leater said the hotel has about a 60 percent occupancy for Easter, but it drops off to about 20 percent next week.
In contrast, the territory's largest property, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, is having a banner week. "We're sold out, and a lot of our counterparts are sold out," general manager Jayne Hiller said.
At the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, manager David Yamada said the hotel is about 95 percent occupied. "Lots of great deals on packages and the American sale have been helpful," he said.
Hiller, who is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, and many other hoteliers said that many guests booked within the last month. Some, like Leater, even have arrivals call from the airport looking for a room. "It's not like it was 15 years ago," he said, referring to an era when hotels were booked up months in advance.
Siefert said the Internet has been a big boon for bookings, and at least half the hotel's reservations come about because of information found online. While travelers may call the hotel's reservations office once they've done their homework on the web, they're already convinced before they make the call that the Divi is where they want to stay.
While most hotels are doing well this weekend, their guests may be spending less on extras. Caneel Bay manager Brian Young said the resort's gift shop now sells more T-shirts and souvenirs than it used, and guests aren't buying as much high-end merchandise as they used to. And he said that while guests used to eat three times at Turtle Bay, the hotel's most expensive restaurant, they now eat there twice and go to an off-property restaurant or eat in the hotel's bar for the third meal.
Marty Pickholtz, owner of Prime Foods on St. Thomas agrees. His wholesale company sells to many of the island's restaurants. He said the less-expensive restaurants seem to be doing better than the higher-price ones. "People can fill up on a burger and chips as well as a rack of lamb dinner," Pickholtz said.
On the retail side, Nanda Dadlani, an owner of The English Shop on St. Thomas, said that some tourists don't buy the more expensive china and crystal, but they don't buy the inexpensive souvenirs, either. "They just come in and look," she said.
At the Fabric Mill on St. John, owner Trish Capuano said the entire winter season has been good. "The tourists seem to be here, and they're really buying," she said.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – Except for a few pockets on St. Thomas and St. Croix, it looks like the Easter Bunny brought plenty of visitors to the territory for the last of the winter season's big holiday weekends.
"We are busy, busy," said Julie Aleman, manager at the St. John Inn.
She said that she had two sets of guests leave early, but within 20 minutes walk-ins had filled the vacant rooms.
Caneel Bay Resort is filled up, and while the Westin Resort still has a few rooms available for Saturday, operations manager Graeme Davis said the hotel will run about 95 percent occupancy next week.
This winter, St. John hotels fared better than properties on St. Thomas and St. Croix, but many hoteliers across the territory said the winter turned out much better than they expected in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"It was not a banner year, but better than we had feared," said Chris Goodier, spokeswoman at the Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix.
The Buccaneer has been filled up all week, with one night this week seeing even the last least-desirable room occupied.
Goodier said so many rooms are filled with families that the hotel's kids' camp has 60 participants at the moment. The hotel hires local high school students on spring break to serve as camp counselors. This provides jobs for the young people, she said, and also provides a way for the visiting children to learn about island culture. And, it leaves their parents free to do what they want unencumbered by their offspring.
Goodier said things will slow down for the next couple of weeks but pick up at the beginning of May for the St. Croix Half-Ironman Triathlon.
Divi Carina Bay Resort's $99 special local rate for Saturday and Sunday night has helped fill its rooms, but manager Bob Siefert said the hotel has plenty of off-island visitors, too. "They're playing, eating, drinking and spending money," he said, noting that a group of 30 had just headed off for a daysail to Buck Island.
Siefert put the hotel's occupancy at about 85 percent, which he said will continue into early next week. The Divi, too, has a lot of families, including free-spending teens, he said.
The small Pink Fancy Hotel hasn't fared as well this weekend as the larger St. Croix properties. With occupancy running about 50 percent, owner David Miller said the hotel was doing about the same as last year this time. "I'm not complaining," he said.
On St. Thomas, the small Island View Guest House had a similar story. Owner Norman Leater said the hotel has about a 60 percent occupancy for Easter, but it drops off to about 20 percent next week.
In contrast, the territory's largest property, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, is having a banner week. "We're sold out, and a lot of our counterparts are sold out," general manager Jayne Hiller said.
At the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, manager David Yamada said the hotel is about 95 percent occupied. "Lots of great deals on packages and the American sale have been helpful," he said.
Hiller, who is president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, and many other hoteliers said that many guests booked within the last month. Some, like Leater, even have arrivals call from the airport looking for a room. "It's not like it was 15 years ago," he said, referring to an era when hotels were booked up months in advance.
Siefert said the Internet has been a big boon for bookings, and at least half the hotel's reservations come about because of information found online. While travelers may call the hotel's reservations office once they've done their homework on the web, they're already convinced before they make the call that the Divi is where they want to stay.
While most hotels are doing well this weekend, their guests may be spending less on extras. Caneel Bay manager Brian Young said the resort's gift shop now sells more T-shirts and souvenirs than it used, and guests aren't buying as much high-end merchandise as they used to. And he said that while guests used to eat three times at Turtle Bay, the hotel's most expensive restaurant, they now eat there twice and go to an off-property restaurant or eat in the hotel's bar for the third meal.
Marty Pickholtz, owner of Prime Foods on St. Thomas agrees. His wholesale company sells to many of the island's restaurants. He said the less-expensive restaurants seem to be doing better than the higher-price ones. "People can fill up on a burger and chips as well as a rack of lamb dinner," Pickholtz said.
On the retail side, Nanda Dadlani, an owner of The English Shop on St. Thomas, said that some tourists don't buy the more expensive china and crystal, but they don't buy the inexpensive souvenirs, either. "They just come in and look," she said.
At the Fabric Mill on St. John, owner Trish Capuano said the entire winter season has been good. "The tourists seem to be here, and they're really buying," she said.

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March 28, 2002 – UVI's Bulletin Board for this date provides information on these events:
Spanish Language Easter Program Offered
Professor Violeta Donovan, University of the Virgin Islands modern language coordinator, has produced and will host a Spanish-language Easter program on two local radio stations this weekend. "Melodías de Semana Santa" airs from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday on WSTA AM1300 and from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday on WGOD FM98 and AM1090.
Service Learning Workshops Offered
UVI will host two nationally known leaders in the service learning and civic engagement field in a series of free workshops from April 3 through April 5.
Sessions are planned on the St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses. Faculty, students and representatives from community service agencies and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate.
Presenting the workshops will be Lyvier Conss, executive director of Compact, a funding agency committed to engaging college students with community service, and Roger Henry, a service learning trainer with extensive experience in college-community involvement.
UVI's goal in sponsoring the workshops is to enhance the ways that the university addresses social issues, develops good citizenship, and provides meaningful learning opportunities for its students.
With nearly 30 years of experience in service learning programs, Henry is an authority on how universities can partner with community service and nonprofit agencies. Under his leadership, Brevard Community College has become a national model for service learning and community involvement innovation. He has engaged thousands of students and hundreds of agencies.
To register, contact Robin Groelle at 778-1620 ext. 3184 or email: rgroell@uvi.edu.
Workshops on the St. Croix Campus are planned as follows:
Wednesday, April 3
— 12:30 p.m. for students in the Student Activities Lounge
— 2 p.m. for faculty – "The Fundamentals of Course Construction – Incorporating Service Learning" – in the Research Extension Room 139
— 3 p.m. for Community Service Agencies – "Partnership Information" – in the
Research Extension Room 139
Workshops on the St. Thomas Campus, all in Education Building Room 216 and covering the same topics as the St. Croix workshops, are planned as follows:
— Thursday, April 4 – 2 p.m. for students
— Friday, April 5 – 10 a.m. for the Community Service Agencies
— Friday, April 5 – 11 a.m. for faculty
Boat Handling, Safety Class Scheduled
A course on small boat handling and safety is scheduled to begin Tuesday,
April 2, at 7 p.m. at the UVI Marine Science Center.
The course is open to the general public, as well as the UVI community.
Classes are set for Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 23. Capt. Tom McCoy of the VI Power Squadron will be the instructor.
Registration will be conducted at the first class meeting. A certificate will be presented upon completion of the course that will help in further boating endeavors. For details contact McCoy at 774-2715.
For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the website at www.uvi.edu.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

March 28, 2002 – UVI's Bulletin Board for this date provides information on these events:
Spanish Language Easter Program Offered
Professor Violeta Donovan, University of the Virgin Islands modern language coordinator, has produced and will host a Spanish-language Easter program on two local radio stations this weekend. "Melodías de Semana Santa" airs from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday on WSTA AM1300 and from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday on WGOD FM98 and AM1090.
Service Learning Workshops Offered
UVI will host two nationally known leaders in the service learning and civic engagement field in a series of free workshops from April 3 through April 5.
Sessions are planned on the St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses. Faculty, students and representatives from community service agencies and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate.
Presenting the workshops will be Lyvier Conss, executive director of Compact, a funding agency committed to engaging college students with community service, and Roger Henry, a service learning trainer with extensive experience in college-community involvement.
UVI's goal in sponsoring the workshops is to enhance the ways that the university addresses social issues, develops good citizenship, and provides meaningful learning opportunities for its students.
With nearly 30 years of experience in service learning programs, Henry is an authority on how universities can partner with community service and nonprofit agencies. Under his leadership, Brevard Community College has become a national model for service learning and community involvement innovation. He has engaged thousands of students and hundreds of agencies.
To register, contact Robin Groelle at 778-1620 ext. 3184 or email: rgroell@uvi.edu.
Workshops on the St. Croix Campus are planned as follows:
Wednesday, April 3
— 12:30 p.m. for students in the Student Activities Lounge
— 2 p.m. for faculty – "The Fundamentals of Course Construction – Incorporating Service Learning" – in the Research Extension Room 139
— 3 p.m. for Community Service Agencies – "Partnership Information" – in the
Research Extension Room 139
Workshops on the St. Thomas Campus, all in Education Building Room 216 and covering the same topics as the St. Croix workshops, are planned as follows:
— Thursday, April 4 – 2 p.m. for students
— Friday, April 5 – 10 a.m. for the Community Service Agencies
— Friday, April 5 – 11 a.m. for faculty
Boat Handling, Safety Class Scheduled
A course on small boat handling and safety is scheduled to begin Tuesday,
April 2, at 7 p.m. at the UVI Marine Science Center.
The course is open to the general public, as well as the UVI community.
Classes are set for Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 23. Capt. Tom McCoy of the VI Power Squadron will be the instructor.
Registration will be conducted at the first class meeting. A certificate will be presented upon completion of the course that will help in further boating endeavors. For details contact McCoy at 774-2715.
For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the website at www.uvi.edu.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.