Representatives from the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Puerto Rico and Latin America gathered with members of the BVI Tourist Board and several businesses today, November 13, 2013 in launching the BVI Marketplace. Photo: VINO

Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith cautioned that building the territory’s establishments and tourism product relies heavily on the relationships built with each other. Photo: VINO/File

Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board, Mr Russell Harrigan said the Tourist Board decided to gather its entire global team to have a strategic retreat to look at where they would like to go over the next year and into 2015. Photo: VINO

Panel discussions will be held with the BVI Tourist Board and industry representatives and businesses during the course of the event to cover key topics including the development of the Latin American market. Photo: VINO

Mr Harrigan said the event also served as an opportunity for operators to go around and get to meet the industry representatives on an individual basis to have a better sense of what is being done. Photo: VINO

Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith cautioned that building the territory’s establishments and tourism product relies heavily on the relationships built with each other. “The rule of grassroots networking continues to teach us that when one person’s talks about having a good experience that word spreads fast,” Dr Smith said.

He noted that the event seeks to attract new customers and to gain repeat ones for the Virgin Islands.

Panel discussions will be held with the BVI Tourist Board and industry representatives and businesses during the course of the event to cover key topics including the development of the Latin American market.

Dr Smith also encouraged attendees to to learn as much as they can about the markets in which the Territory is operating. “Customer’s needs and expectations,” he said, “are becoming more and more diverse and we must prepare ourselves to exceed their expectations.”

“I must say, I am excited about this internal marketing initiative. I see it as an important opportunity for government and the private sector to collaborate more in building the 'BVI Brand',” Premier Smith added.

Dr Smith, who is also the Minister of Tourism, said over the last few years, the Board has become more strategic in its actions and implementation of activities and understands its role in the development of the tourism industry. He offered assurances that there will be more outreach to stakeholders to work closer together in promoting the VI.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board, Mr Russell Harrigan said the Tourist Board decided to gather its entire global team to have a strategic retreat to look at where they would like to go over the next year and into 2015.

He added, “today was about interfacing with the industry; the resorts, the dive operators, the yachting companies, the villa owners, the small properties, the industry essentially, so that they not only have a sense of what we are planning and where we are trying to go but also to hear their concerns.”

Mr Harrigan said the event also served as an opportunity for operators to go around and get to meet the industry representatives on an individual basis to have a better sense of what is being done.