USVI Honors Late Tourism Veteran Mary Gleason

Tourism veteran and community advocate Mary Gleason passed in December 2023. Gleason worked extensively with the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association and closely with USVIHTA President Lisa Hamilton for many years. Gleason dedicated much of her life to bolstering the tourism community as well as the Virgin Islands as a whole. She will be dearly missed.

“Mary Gleason was a pioneer for professional women during a time when breaking the glass ceiling seemed an unattainable goal. As Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Marriott Frenchman’s Reef, Mary took me under her wing when I arrived on St. Thomas as a snowbird in 1992. As she did with many, she mentored me throughout my career from Convention Services Manager to my current role as USVI Hotel & Tourism Association President. I will miss the frequent candid and intimate discussions with my ‘St. Thomas mother.’ Her guidance was invaluable and always delivered with her wonderful sense of humor. Mary loved the Virgin Islands, and we are all better for her contributions," Hamilton said.

*Photo and link below courtesy of Virgin Islands Source.

Visit USVI 2024 Launches

Visit USVI 2024 has officially launched! Click the covers below to view the magazines for each island. Magazines will be distributed to hotels and other businesses throughout the next few weeks. Be on the lookout for these beautiful resources for your guests.

USVIHTA Membership Mixer - Save the Date for Jan. 25!

The USVI Hotel & Tourism Association is holding its next Membership Mixer on Jan. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Hills, Saint John. Join us for hors d’oeuvres, a complimentary drink and a cash bar while networking with industry colleagues! Safari transportation will be arranged between the property and Cruz Bay. Please take the 5 p.m. ferry from Red Hook and we will take the 8 p.m. ferry back. RSVP with Lisa Hamilton at lisa@usvihta.com.

CHTA Emphasizes the Need for Better Air Connectivity to Foster Tourism Growth

The President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) wants a full-court press from regional stakeholders to boost air connectivity this year. "As tourism rebounds, there is absolutely no room for complacency," warned Nicola Madden-Greig, who called on industry officials to remain laser-focused on maintaining the airlift that has returned since the pandemic and strengthening it into the future. "This means connecting the region to its source markets, pursuing new links to emerging destinations, and returning intra-regional travel to its glory days when convenient schedules as well as affordable fares were the norm," the Jamaican hotelier asserted.