July 27, 2003 – August isn't one of the busier months for the hospitality industry in the Virgin Islands, but it's an important one — because many of the territory's overnight visitors are travel agents.
That's because each August the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association and the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association sponsor Travel Agent Month, offering those industry professionals three nights of complimentary accommodations, discounted travel and special deals on attractions, activities and shopping.
Martin Public Relations, the territory's mainland publicity agency, quotes Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards as saying that "It's wonderful to see how our hotels, tour operators, retail stores and attractions work together to make this a successful event each year." She said the promotion allows travel agents to "get a sample of all that our islands have to offer."
The following businesses are participating in this year's program:
St. Croix accommodations — The Buccaneer Hotel, Carambola Beach Resort, Caravelle Hotel, Carrington's Inn St. Croix, Divi Carina Bay Resort, Frederiksted Hotel, Hibiscus Beach Hotel, Hotel on the Cay, Inn at Pelican Heights, InnParadise, King Christian Hotel, Sand Castle on the Beach, Sugar Beach Condominiums, Tamarind Reef Hotel, Villa Margarita and The Waves at Cane Bay.
Other St. Croix establishments — A Boardwalk In Restaurant, Big Beard's Adventure Tours and gift shop, Centipede, Mile Mark Water Sports, Olympic Rent-a-Car, Sonya Jewelry, St. Croix Safari Tours and Violette Boutique.
St. Thomas accommodations — Best Western Carib Beach Resort, Best Western Emerald Beach Resort, Bolongo Bay Beach Club, Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel, Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina, Secret Harbour Beach Resort and Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa.
Other St. Thomas establishments — A.H. Riise Stores, Amsterdam Sauer, Cardow Jewelers, Caribbean Watersports, Coral World, Mahogany Run Golf Course and Paradise Point Tramway.
St. John accommodations — Gallows Point Resort and The Westin St. John Resort.
Airlines — American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.
The release also referred travel agent to the St Thomas-St. John and St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Web sites.
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