Villa Life - Our Blog

56th BVI Emancipation Festival

The British Virgin Islands once again readies its shores to receive family, friends and musical artists in celebration of the 56th anniversary of the Emancipation Festival.  Also referred to as "August Monday" Festival, this schedule of events includes pageantry, culture and commemoration of the emancipation with a Freedom March and Emancipation service.  The showpiece is the Festival Parade on Monday, August 2, 2010 featuring troupes, floupes, floats, moko jumbies, twirlers, bands, and Carnival royalty from throughout the region. 

Please note that during this time there will be increased ferry traffic, and that rental cars and vacation villas and other properties will be at a premium, so make your plans early!

The islands of the Caribbean host a variety of celebrations referred to as "Carnival", but they may commemorate different events, such as a successful agricultural season ("Crop Over" in Barbados), a traditional holiday ("Crucian Christmas Fiesta" on St. Croix), or freedom, with "Emancipation Day" celebrations. 

During the summer, the Virgin Islands (both U.S. and British) play host to two separate Emancipation Day celebrations.  The date of July 3, 1848 marks the date when then-Governor General Peter von Scholten declared all slaves free in the then-Danish West Indies.  In the British Virgin Islands, the first Monday in August, referred to as "August Monday" on Tortola marks the date of the Emancipation Proclamation being read in Road Town at the Sunday Morning Well (above right) on August 1, 1834. 

Quick historical tip:  what we call the "British Virgin Islands" are the actual Virgin Islands, as the "U.S. Virgin Islands" were not so named until after the 1917 transfer of the then-Danish West Indies from Denmark to America.  

Events will take place from July 23-August 7 2010, including various pageants and competitions to select Festival royalty. 

August 2
Festival Monday - (Public Holiday)

August 3
Festival Tuesday - (Public Holiday)

August 3
Horse Races
Races at the Ellis Thomas Downs Race Track, Sea Cows Bay hosted by the BVI Horse Owners’ Association.

August 4
Festival Wednesday - (Public Holiday)

August 5-6
Carrot Bay Festival Celebrations
Festival celebrations at Carrot Bay.

Related link:  BVI Tourism (Events and Festivals calendar)

St. John Festival Celebration 2010 schedule

2010 St. John Celebration theme:
"Enjoy Our Cultural & Musical Trend for Festival 2010"
 
The U.S. Virgin Islands enjoy 3 distinct Carnival celebrations:  the St. Croix Crucian Christmas Fiesta, St. Thomas Carnival (considered Virgin Islands Carnival), and the St. John Celebration, which encompasses a commemoration of the Emancipation of 1848 and the 4th of July.  This year's activities begin with Pan-O-Rama on May 29th and will end with Festival Fireworks on Monday, July 5th (when the holiday falls officially this year). 

NOTE:  Rental cars, provisioning, chefs and other special services are in high demand;  please book vacation extras in advance!

St. John villa Kismet brings in top bid in charity auction

We love it when villa owners really take an interest in their island communities.  The owners of Kismet have been supporters of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park (FVINP) on St. John since 2004, and this winter, they have been cited as the top earner in a recent online benefit auction.

According to the FVINP web site, "The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park (Friends) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the natural and cultural resources of Virgin Islands National Park (Park) and promotes the responsible enjoyment of this unique national treasure. As the official private sector partner to the Park, the Friends is a membership organization that raises funds from individuals, corporations and foundations to support projects important to the Park and to further our mission."

A weekend stay at the luxurious 5-bedroom villa brought in an impressive $1,900 towards an overall take of $16,100, according to the Friends of V.I. National Park.  The success of this endeavor will most likely lead to even more online auctions, which will mean that local residents and those living in other parts of the world will be able to support the V.I. National Park.

We hope that our readers will consider supporting the V.I. National Park on St. John, and we also hail the owners of Kismet for their dedication to preserving the beauty of St. John, their own island home!

Visit the Friends of the V.I. National Park at friendsvinp.org

Visit Kismet's web page at mclaughlinanderson.com

Tommy Stars, one and all!

The U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association pulled out all the stops for the 8th annual Tommy Star Awards gala on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the St. Peter Mountain Greathouse. 

Cocktails began at 7pm, and attendees were treated to videotaped greetings to all that was to come by the finalists themselves.  After rounds of champagne and hors-d'oeuvres, the audience was directed to the dining room, which was outfitted royally, with pink roses and matching table treatments.  The finalists were led in one by one, beneath their own taped introductions of themselves.

McLaughlin Anderson Luxury Villas' Anita Davis, who doubles as Help Desk and IT as well as Reservations, was one of the finalists who had made it this far.  She was nominated by McLaughlin Anderson staff and management in the category of Hotel Associate of the Year for her able assistance to internal and external customers.  She keeps the web site, blog and social networking pages clicking and manages the customized web site portal, image libraries, and documents.  She assists the web developer with feedback and troubleshooting on behalf of guest visitors to the site, owners, vendors, and the McLaughlin Anderson Luxury Villas staff.  She also continues to act as Reservationist, with her own roster of direct repeat guests as well as travel agents, tour operators and wholesalers. 

Also nominated in this category were Mary Ryan of the Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, Jasmine Steward of the Westin St. John Resort, and Gertrude "Trudi" Gillmore of The Ritz-Carlton.  Gillmore captured the prize and the warmth of the audience with her enthusiastic acceptance speech, "I'm elated!"... and her several happy  kisses to her presenter, the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Hon. John de Johngh, Jr.  

Read more about the 2009 Tommy Star Awards and the Award of Excellence (Stanley Selengut), Tommy Star Student Award (Akeiba Barnard), and the Green Award (Jennifer McQueen).  (Complete winner list will be provided upon publication)

St. Thomas Source article featuring all winners and honorees

Photo album on our Facebook page

Pictured: Nancy's gift to Anita, an "A" initial pin and studded star;  Tommy Star Finalist memento, and other keepsakes from the big night.  Click either image to see larger version.

Department of Tourism Announces New US Airways Non-Stop Service

(official release)

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ANNOUNCES NEW US AIRWAYS NON-STOP SERVICE

~Weekly flights from Boston to St. Thomas to commence in December~

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, August 26, 2009 – The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism has received commitments from US Airways for new, weekly non-stop service from Boston’s Logan International Airport to St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport.  The service represents a new route for the carrier, which will operate on Saturdays beginning December 19, 2009 through April 23, 2010 using the A319 aircraft.  The flights are now available for sale at USAirways.com and all other US Airways ticketing outlets.

The new service announcements are evidence of the Administration’s commitment to fostering a stronger relationship with our airline partners and growing air service to the Territory.   

In support of the new airlift, the Department of Tourism is dedicating $25,000 to supplement US Airways’ marketing campaign to launch the new service.  In addition, the DOT has earmarked $1 million for television ads, June through December 2009, with US Airways as the call to action.  US Airways has committed more than $100,000 to the cooperative marketing program to support this and other US Airways flights to the Territory. The campaign includes print advertisements in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe and Charlotte Observer; an appearance by the USVI as the “featured destination of the month” in the airline’s in-flight magazines on all domestic and international routes; digital banner advertisements and consumer and travel agent e-blasts.

Additionally, the DOT will host a travel agent reception and media dinner in Boston in December to support the new service, followed by a familiarization visit for a group of key US Airways travel agent suppliers and top-tier journalists in early January 2010.

“We are excited to welcome new non-stop service from US Airways that will provide additional capacity and options for travelers to visit the Territory this winter,” said Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty.  “We remain committed to supporting our airline partners and finding ways to ensure continued and increased airlift in the current economic environment.”

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Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization

 

Contact:     Allegra Kean-Moorehead

Director of Communications

340-774-8784 ext. 2234

akmoorehead@usvitourism.vi