Bryan promoted U.S. Virgin Islands hotel investment at Miami conference

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. told investors at the Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit in Miami Beach on May 21, 2019, that the U.S. Virgin Islands had about 2,500 of its 4,500 hotel rooms available while three of the four major hotels remained under repair.

According to Government House, Bryan said the territory received an estimated 1.9 million annual visitors in 2018 and that the airports on St. Thomas and St. Croix were operating at about 90% capacity.

At the conference, Bryan outlined tax incentives for developers and said the government would assist through permitting, financing and construction for new hotel projects in the territory.

Government House said Bryan also discussed support for smaller hotels as they rebuilt and resumed hosting travelers, and described development priorities on St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The administration said Bryan attended the panel with British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie and Daniel Gibbs, president of the Collectivity of St. Martin. Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Government Employees Retirement System Administrator Austin Nibbs, Economic Development Authority Director Kamal Latham and Virgin Islands Port Authority Executive Director Damian Cartwright also attended.

Government House said Bryan also held one-on-one meetings with hotel investors while at the conference.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-discusses-airbnbs-growth-resurgence-of-annual-visitors-in-the-usvi-at-chris-conference-in-miami-with-industry-leaders/