Thank you to the St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association, and sponsor VIYA, for hosting the annual Membership Mixer with special guest speaker, Governor Albert Bryan. We enjoyed learning about the current projects of the Virgin Islands Administration, mingling with other members, and the views and hors d’oeuvres at The Buccaneer’s The Brass Parrot.
Governor Bryan reported on the 267 projects happening on St. Croix right now, in particular those affecting tourism.
In Frederiksted:
- construction of public beach bathrooms
- a new pagoda
- the slow progress of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium
- a new Fort Frederik tour mobile app
- a pier for charter boats, construction starting soon
- all streets in town have been paved
- Mahogany Road will be paved
- 140 cruise ship calls in the coming year
- January through May sunset jazz
Mid-Island:
- a new UVI gym entering design phase soon
- the new professional soccer field, with improvements in the general area planned for the future
- other sports tourism additions, including the drag strip and work on the horse track
- cargo docks moving from Gallow’s Bay to south shore soon
- new departure lounge and entry walkway at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport
- Highway paving should be completed in August, 367 lights should be added this fall
In Christiansted:
- entry roads paved
- town roads to be paved after sewer lines are buried
- King’s Alley hotel sold, to be connected to King Christian Hotel
- replacement of bulkhead for waterfront access, storm protection, and emergency vessel response access
- Gallow’s Bay road reconstruction
- future demolition of warehouse buildings for new development
- East End Road paved from The Buccaneer to [almost] Cramer’s Park
- RFP for a parking garage coming soon
Island-wide:
- Business Innovation Grants
- funding secured for 40MW of solar
- putting in batteries to smooth out power outages
- Get Off the Grid program providing low-interest loans for solar
- Apprenticeship program for employers to provide job training
Suzanne Rosbach, President of the St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association Board of Directors, reported that she has been representing St. Croix at several trade shows. They are seeing an increased amount of travel agents attending trade shows and noteworthy interest in the U.S. Virgin islands, particularly St. Croix. The SCHTA will be holding their annual auction to raise money for charity and tourism scholarships soon!