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BVITB promises transparency for Lobster Fest & Restaurant Week 2013

-Both events will cost less than $80, 000- Rhodni Skelton
Events Marketing Manager of the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB), Mr Rhodni Skelton (left) at the launch of Lobster Festival and Restaurant Week 2013 at the BVI Tourist Board office on September 24, 2013. Also in picture is Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Ms Sharon Flax-Mars. Photo: Provided
The BVITB Lobster Festival and Restaurant Week committee for the 2013 activities. Photo: Provided
The BVITB Lobster Festival and Restaurant Week committee for the 2013 activities. Photo: Provided
Chairperson for the BVI Restaurant Week activities Ms Meslyn Allan said the number of participating restaurants for this year has almost doubled that of last year and more are still expected to get on board. Photo: File
Chairperson for the BVI Restaurant Week activities Ms Meslyn Allan said the number of participating restaurants for this year has almost doubled that of last year and more are still expected to get on board. Photo: File
The Anegada Lobster Festival is scheduled for November 30 - December 1, 2013. Photo: BVITB
The Anegada Lobster Festival is scheduled for November 30 - December 1, 2013. Photo: BVITB
BVI Restaurant Week is set for November 22 - December 1, 2013.
BVI Restaurant Week is set for November 22 - December 1, 2013.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – “Based on events that happen like this all around the world you are going to need one hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand [dollars] to pull off an event like this. We are doing both, both events will cost the BVI less than eighty thousand dollars.”

This was said by Events Marketing Manager of the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB), Mr Rhodni Skelton at the launch of the Anegada Lobster Festival and BVI Restaurant Week 2013 at the BVI Tourist Board office on September 24, 2013.

Mr Skelton stressed that a definite budget would not be possible at the beginning but said the books will be wide open to the public at the conclusion.

“I know the media has its mandate and you guys have to get to the bottom of everything but like everything else when everything is done, obviously things do pop up and expenses do pop up, our books are wide open for the public to see. So at the end of the day you’ll be able to see ultimately how much the event does cost the BVI,” assured Mr Skelton.

Included in this year’s package for the Anegada Lobster Festival and Restaurant Week, is the option for patrons to take the ferry at nights to Virgin Gorda for the culinary experience.

“For us, it is not only for financial gain, I would like to emphasize that, I share with my team as well that our role is to also educate and we try to include that in a lot of the things we are doing,” said Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Ms Sharon Flax-Mars.

Key partners in the events for this year are the ferry services, which according to Mr Skelton, will see the ferry services offering major discount packages.

One of the major objectives of the BVITB this year is to promote tourism activities on Anegada as it was reiterated that residents and businesses there have constantly been complaining of being neglected.

Ms Flax-Mars expressed confidence Anegada has the capacity, both in the area of human resources and material resources, to handle large numbers of persons going there for events and tourism experiences.

“I have been on boat rides to Anegada with excess of 250, 300 persons, and Anegada has handled it fine. In visiting Anegada, the island, the topography, it’s spread out in such a way. There are lots of restaurants, there are lots of hotel rooms as well, and I think that it’s a great vehicle, and I would like for us to be very positive about what we can do about Anegada and the BVI from a tourism stand point,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Chairperson for the Restaurant Week activities Ms Meslyn Allan said the number of participating restaurants for this year has almost doubled that of last year and more are still expected to get on board.

The two-day Lobster Festival scheduled for November 30 - December 1, 2013 will be the prime event on Anegada but Anegadians will also be participating in the coinciding Restaurant Week set for November 22 to December 1, 2013.

According to the organizers, persons attending the Lobster Festival will journey to eight participating restaurants on an island adventure via safari, scooter, or rental car. There will be dining on three different lobster sampler plates at each restaurant at a cost of $10-12 per samples.

“Last year we had twenty something, this year so far we have forty one which is a significantly great improvement,” said Ms Allan.

In the cook off activities this year, Ms Flax-Mars said the BVITB is looking at including a number of students from the H. Lavity Stout Community College (HLSCC). “We are not asking them to come out with this regular menu, we are asking them to come up with something new, something compelling so that when persons come to their restaurant they would want to keep coming back,” said Ms Allan.

It was highlighted at the press conference that restaurateurs have the challenge to put out their best and to do what is necessary to attract persons to their individual restaurants.

14 Responses to “BVITB promises transparency for Lobster Fest & Restaurant Week 2013”

  • insider (26/09/2013, 15:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    nothing there!!!
  • GoonSquad (26/09/2013, 18:27) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    What damm transparency???? strupps
  • GoonSquad 2 (26/09/2013, 19:01) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is very funny, they do not have money to pay us for the last festival but come up with $80,000.00 plus for a lobster festival? How is this possible? We all already know when Skelton says $80,000 that means $150,000.00. We have not seen last years Music fest or this years music fest report and we expect to see lobster fest report? Only in the bvi is failure rewarded, no wonder the economy is going down the toilet!
  • Gov't doing good? (26/09/2013, 19:07) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is costing $80,000 dollars? We paying for the ferry, we paying for the food, we paying for transportation. Seem like you got a bunch of sponsors.
  • want to know (26/09/2013, 19:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Any of the committee members from Anegada???
  • crucian (27/09/2013, 04:55) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sharon and Rhodni, we will be there!!
  • Peng (27/09/2013, 08:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sharon and Rhodni u buying me a lobster???? I really want to attend!
  • Laddy (27/09/2013, 09:31) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tourist Board is who doing this not a private committee like MusicFest. There is no comparison. Why you all always so negative. I was at the press conference and they said nothing about travsparency. It is some good things Tourist Board doing. Get on board and support them instead of chatting nonsense.
    • Look Ting (27/09/2013, 19:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The TB should be marketing the BVI not pretending to be promoters and event organizers we saw how that went for Music Fest and let's not even talk about the Festival. The Tourist board needs to stick to marketing BOSS...
  • chad (27/09/2013, 09:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great events guys! But why no mention of the Celebrity Chef or the great publicity the BVI will get? And the young junior chef from VG? Or the use of local farm produce? Or the great partnerships and support the events have? That is the real story
  • Maths (27/09/2013, 10:13) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    The price seems very conservative, considering chair rental at the Teachers event was 100 thousand just for that.
  • Real (27/09/2013, 10:21) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think this is a great event and look forward to the success. Congrats and all the best to all involved. Don't let the negative ignorance get in your way.

    BTW, I thought Rhodni was the Film Commish..he's now events manager or hold both hats? Either way, keep pushing Skello don't mind the noise!!
  • v (27/09/2013, 10:33) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Excellent Work Meslyn... Keep pushing on!!


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