USVIHTA Update | December 2020
Greetings Members,
As we head into season, please be sure to confirm emails you're receiving from outside your organization are from trusted sources. Phishing and spam emails increase in frequency this time of year and we want to ensure your technological safety! Constant Contact emails from us will always come from Lisa Hamilton (lisa@usvihta.com or lisa@virgin-islands-hotels.com), Laurel Kaufmann (kaufmann.laurel@gmail.com), or our admin email (admin@virgin-islands-hotels.com). Thank you.
Boys & Girls Club of St. Thomas Finds a New Way to Celebrate Thanksgiving with USVIHTA Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Though USVIHTA was unable to participate in the traditional way due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were still honored to support the Boys & Girls Club of St. Thomas during their annual Thanksgiving Lunch. The association donated $200 to purchase food that was served in to go containers for attendees. One hundred and thirty-six plates were served to the delight of attendees, according to B&GC team members. Click here to view photos from the event.
Blue Flags Raised at Beaches Throughout the Territory
Blue Flags for the 2020-2021 season went up throughout the territory this week as several beaches re-joined the international program.

"I am so proud of the Blue Flag sites. Their commitment to maintaining the Blue Flag standards during the COVID pandemic is a testament to their resilience and creativity. Congratulations to the three sites that raised their Blue Flags in the USVI: Tamarind Reef Resort, St. Croix; Emerald Beach Resort, St. Thomas; and The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas," said Valerie Peters.

Emerald Beach Resort Blue Flag pictured.
USVI Vision 2040 Business Survey - Your Feedback is Needed! Deadline Dec. 9
The Vision 2040 team is seeking feedback from business owners located or operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The information from this survey will be used to identify critical issues facing businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which will be used to help craft long-term strategies for economic development. Your feedback is vital. Click the link below to take the survey.


And don't forget to visit usvi2040.com to take other Vision 2040 surveys.
Association Health Plan Surveys - If Your Business Has Employees, Your Feedback is Critical! Take the Survey Before the Deadline!
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. shared his concern regarding the number of persons who do not have access to private health insurance. He is exploring Association Health Plans to allow small businesses, including self-employed workers, to band together to obtain health insurance coverage as if they were a single large employer.
 
The Office of the Governor is conducting a survey of Virgin Islands residents to better understand how to improve access to affordable health insurance. Please take a few moments to answer the following questions about health insurance coverage. 

The APH Survey should be completed by all association members and their employees. The AHP Employer Survey is only for those business owners who have employees. The deadline to complete the surveys is Dec. 18. Click the links below to begin.
 
U.S. Virgin Islands Partners with American Airlines on Preflight Testing Program
The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands is hopeful that its entry into American Airlines’ preflight testing program will strengthen efforts to minimize the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the territory. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who recently called for pre-departure testing to make travel to the Caribbean healthier and easier, heralded the territory’s inclusion in the LetsGetChecked program to give more customers access to at-home PCR testing with observation by a medical professional via a virtual visit. Read more.

More local and regional news:
USVI Small Business Resources for December
Click here to view December USVI Small Business Resources from the VI Small Business Development Center.
Save the Date
Click here to view upcoming events. And don't forget to share your special events with members today by emailing kaufmann.laurel@gmail.com.
Lisa Hamilton 
USVIHTA President 
340-774-6835