WELCOME TO THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS
2024 USVI TOURISM SUMMIT – July 25th, 2024
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is proud to host our first annual Tourism Summit to recap and celebrate destination successes, explore new and arising trends, and welcome industry experts for a day of learning and enrichment.
One Band, One Sound— Let’s Grow, Learn and Build Together.
Location:
The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef on St. Thomas
Harbor View Ballrooms
Parking:
Free Parking and Shuttle Available at Havensight Pier 22
No Onsite Parking is Available
Agenda:
Light Breakfast and Coffee: 8:30 AM
Summit: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Greetings and Formal Welcome
State of USVI Tourism
State of the Caribbean
Tourism: Understanding the Product and How to Expand it.
Keynote: You Are What You Say You Are: Capturing the Essence of the USVI through Storytelling and Unique Partnerships
Beachside Chat Featuring Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Commissioner Joseph Boschulte
Leveraging Social Media & Influencers to Expand a Brand
USVI By the Numbers-Tourism Economics and Adara
Edible Bites: AI, PR/Social Media/ Google Optimization
Closing Remarks: Lt. Governor Tregenza A. Roach, Esq.
· Happy Hour Presented by Mutiny Island Vodka: 5:00 to 7:00 PM
2024 Guest Speakers
About the Speakers
- ALBERT BRYAN JR., GOVERNOR U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Albert Bryan Jr. is the ninth-elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is an entrepreneur, non-profit executive, and tireless and compassionate advocate for the economic and political advancement of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands. During his first term as governor, Bryan, a former commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority Board, is boldly leading the U.S. Virgin Islands through unprecedented economic growth and infrastructure expansion. In addition, his administration spearheads a multi-billion-dollar recovery and rebuilding effort to transform the territory’s critical infrastructure in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. In collaboration with the 34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, Governor Bryan developed and implemented a plan that has placed the Government Employees Retirement System, one of the country’s most underfunded public pension systems, on a path to solvency after more than 30 years of underinvestment. Bryan also boldly and effectively led the U.S. Virgin Islands through the COVID-19 pandemic keeping Virgin Islanders safe while protecting the territory’s tourism-driven economy from collapse. Bryan continues to make progress on his mission to lead the U.S. Virgin Islands to be number one in tourism, technology, and talent throughout the Eastern Caribbean. Governor Bryan is married to Yolanda Cabodevilla Bryan. Together, they’re the proud parents of their daughters, Aliyah and Sumayah.
- TREGENZA A. ROACH, ESQ., LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR U.S VIRGIN ISLANDS
Early Life Lt. Governor Tregenza A. Roach, Esq. migrated from St. Kitts to the U.S. Virgin Islands at the age of eight to join his parents, Victor and Iona Roach, who had made St. Thomas their home years earlier. A proud product of the St. Thomas Seventh Day Adventist School and V.I. public schools, Lt. Governor Roach graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School and attended the College of the Virgin Islands as a Holstein-Lewis scholar. He earned a Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia and launched his career as a reporter for the Virgin Islands Daily News, rising to News Editor. He holds a juris doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he honed his skills as an effective problem-solver, innovative thinker, and detailed analyst. Roach was a law clerk at various U.S. and V.I. government offices, practiced in the Territorial Court’s Civil and Family divisions and was an associate attorney at Bornn Bornn Handy and Rashid. He has been a member of the Virgin Islands Bar since 1991. Public Service Leadership The Lt. Governor ’s early public service career as Legal Counsel to the V.I. Commissioner of Education and as Executive Director of the Board of Education led to hIs award-winning consultancy as the Coordinator/Researcher of the University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) Constitution 2008. The website created under his leadership was included by the Library of Congress in materials for the national election 2008. As the United Nations qualified expert on constitutional development in the U.S. territories, he represented the V.I. at the United Nations Decolonization Seminars in Grenada, Indonesia, and St. Kitts. Roach has served on UVI’s faculty, worked on its other projects with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, its Center for the Study of Spirituality and Professionalism, and was Editor-in-Chief of The Caribbean Writer. Lt. Governor Roach was elected to the 30th, 31st and 32nd legislatures as a staunch advocate for education, the environment, and the youth and elderly. As a member of the Education Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), he garnered the support of this influential body to adopt a resolution supporting full citizenship rights for Virgin Islanders which led to a full NCSL conference session devoted to the affairs of the remaining U.S. territories. Humanitarian and Thought Leader Lt. Governor Roach has served as a board member of the Disability Rights Center and the mental health advocacy group Clear Blue Sky, Inc., as Chairman of the V.I. Humanities Council, and as a volunteer reader and speaker in public and private schools. A poet and author, he has been published in numerous journals and is the recipient of regional and national awards for his adult and children’s books.
- JOSEPH BOSCHULTE, COMMISSIONER U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
Joseph Boschulte is the Commissioner for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Commissioner Boschulte brings over 30 years of experience in business, finance, and government to the tourism department. The Commissioner has held high-level positions in transportation, utilities, telecommunications, finance, government development and investment banking with a proven track record of improving organizational performance and growth. Boschulte formerly served as President and CEO of The West Indian Company Limited (WICO), Chief Financial Officer of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and the Government of the Virgin Islands Employees’ Retirement System, and chair of the VI Public Services Commission. Additionally, Boschulte serves as the former Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Executive Director for UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Arts, Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance with Wachovia Securities in Atlanta, and Vice President of Banc of America Securities in Charlotte and New York City. Boschulte currently serves on the Board of Directors of The West Indian Company Limited (WICO) and the Virgin Islands Port Authority. He is also a member of the US Travel Association. As Commissioner of Tourism, Boschulte has progressively led the Department of Tourism to expansive heights, rebuilding the territory’s brand, expanding the market reach, and increasing consumer visitation. Named the 2023 Caribbean Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal, Commissioner Boschulte’s leadership in the US Virgin Islands expanded the depths of traditional destination branding, elevating the territory as a leading destination in the region. Commissioner Boschulte earned his BBA from William and Mary and an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. A family man first, Commissioner Boschulte is a husband to his wife Aisha and the proud parent of children Jaeden and Janae.
- MARTINIQUE LEWIS, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK TRAVEL ALLIANCE
Martinique Lewis is an award-winning diversity in travel consultant, President of the Black Travel Alliance, both Travel and leisure and Travel pulses ”Most influential people in travel”.Creator of The ABC Travel Greenbook and App! The number one resource connecting travelers to the African Diaspora Globally. And don’t forget the host of National Geographic ”Black Travel Across America”! Trusted amongst her peers as a ‘’connector’’ she is always connecting the dots to ensure the travel industry is mindful of diversity, not just as a ‘Buzz word’’ but an action that produces results. As a Digital Disruptor whose immensely in love with all things travel, daily she strives to change the narrative by advocating for travelers who represent different demographics across multiple platforms. Working directly with tourism boards and travel brands she creates content that is exciting and influential. Her mission is to change the face of tourism forever so that we all feel represented and see ourselves reflected.
- BRITTANY MCCALLUM, VICE PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL MARKETING
Brittany McCallum is a dynamic and forward-thinking marketing executive with a wealth of global experience in business development, partner management, and athlete relations. With an unwavering passion for sports and marketing, McCallum has solidified herself as a driving force in the sports industry. Currently serving as the Vice President of basketball marketing at KLUTCH Sports Group, McCallum plays a pivotal role in crafting and executing successful marketing strategies. Leveraging her vast experience, she spearheads integrated initiatives that create incremental promotional and revenue opportunities for brands and athletes. These include strategic partnerships, endorsements, sponsorships, licensing, merchandising, and influencer marketing, all contributing to elevating the stature of both brands and athletes. McCallum’s distinctive talent lies in her exceptional ability to connect brands with culture, cultivating strategic partnerships that elevate brand equity in the sports and entertainment landscape. Prior to KLUTCH Sports Group, McCallum showcased her marketing prowess at the NBA. During her tenure, she managed partnerships with world-class brands, esteemed athletes, and agencies across various tentpole events, ranging from the NBA and WNBA to NBA G League and USA Basketball properties. McCallum earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Michigan State University, where she honed her communication and storytelling skills, becoming a compelling advocate for brands and athletes.
- BONNIE BORKIN, SENIOR DIRECTOR, CARIBBEAN TOURISM & ENTERPRISE
Bonnie Borkin is a CX- and data-centric marketing solution strategist driven by voice-of-the-customer and helping her clients succeed. She has contributed to the Caribbean tourism community for nearly her entire career and considers engagement with the region a personal passion, not simply part of her profession. With a marketing and media foundation that began at NBC in New York, Borkin established herself in the digital travel sector over two decades ago while leading Partner Marketing for Travelocity. A seasoned MarTech and AdTech professional, she is currently channeling the power of first-party data and marketing attribution measurement at Adara – A RateGain Company. With the mission of charging tourism’s economic engine, Borkin has been helping destinations build their brands and drive visitation with the right mix of data, media and technology. Borkin earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she concentrated in Sociology, Economics and Communications.
- KIM PALMER, DESTINATION OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MILES PARTNERSHIP
Kim manages the Destination Optimization Program team at Miles and has helped guide the development and industry awareness for this program since its launch in 2017. These efforts have helped empower Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and travel industry businesses to update and enrich content through Google and other major travel planning platforms to improve the discoverability of their communities. Previously she has been the company’s Director of SEO, the Director of Digital Marketing for the Hospitality division and launched some of the industry’s first destination marketing websites in the late 90’s.
- ALEXANDER BRITELL, CARIBBEAN JOURNAL
Alexander Britell is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal Invest, the authority on Caribbean hotel and real estate news, and of Caribbean Journal, the world’s largest Caribbean travel site, along with the Caribbean’s two premier rum events: the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth, and Bonaire Rum Week. A native of New York City, he is a cum laude graduate of both Harvard College and the University of Miami School of Law. He lives in Coral Gables with his wife and two daughters.
- C.A. CLARK, VICE PRESIDENT OF AI AT MILES
C.A. Clark is a digital marketing veteran with over 25 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. C.A. has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth throughout his career. His journey began in web development and design, evolving to encompass a wide range of digital marketing competencies including email marketing, conversion rate optimization, user experience design, and data analysis. C.A. has worked with hundreds destination marketing organizations, hotels, and tourism boards across the United States and internationally, consistently delivering award-winning campaigns and record-breaking results. In addition to serving as the General Manager for our Auckland, New Zealand office C.A. is leading internal and external AI efforts for miles as VP of AI. When not pioneering new digital marketing strategies, C.A. can be found indulging his passions for motorcycle riding, clay target shooting, and exploring new destinations around the globe.
- ERIK EVJEN, EVP, TOURISM ECONOMICS
Erik Evjen is the Executive Vice President of Tourism Economics, a global tourism forecasting and quantitative analysis firm. At Tourism Economics, Erik developed and oversee SYMPHONY, a customized business intelligence platform designed to help destination marketing organizations (DMOs) quiet the noise of complex data, compose crystal clear intelligence, and amplify the importance of destination sales and marketing to stakeholders. Prior to joining Tourism Economics, Erik lead Philadelphia Convention & Visitor Bureau’s research department, and currently serve on several national tourism related boards and committees.
- GABRIELLE QUERRARD, CONTENT CURATOR
Gabrielle Querrard is an ancestral Virgin Islander who began to create informational videos centered around Caribbean culture, history, and news on TikTok in 2021. By 2022 she would amass almost 30,000 followers on TikTok, comprised of people located in countries all across the globe. She appreciated the opportunity to educate and engage with other people within the Caribbean diaspora and believed that her Virgin Islands community could benefit from a similar style of content that was dedicated to Virgin Islands centered topics. This vision inspired her to take her content creation ideas over to Instagram and Facebook platforms where Virgin Islanders were more likely to see it. Interest in the videos grew quickly among the community and opportunities started to blossom. Some of these opportunities have included jobs in creative direction with the Mango Media Marketing agency, location scout and photographer assistant for a photo shoot opportunity with Roc Nation’s artist Maeta, and more recently she was invited to cohost for Season 3 of Tempo’s Hot Ones Caribbean, which aired in November of 2023. As a means to merge her interest in spiritual development, love of Caribbean history, and expand her social media portfolio, Gabrielle co-produces and co-cohosts the Caribbean Mystics Podcast. In just two short years, the Caribbean Mystics Podcast has received almost 40,000 downloads and season 3 is scheduled to be released this August.
- BARRY BROWN, AFAR MEDIA – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CARIBBEAN
Barry Brown is an advertising and publishing professional who has been connected to the Region and the islands of the Atlantic/Caribbean for over 25 years. Barry began his career at DDB Needham Advertising where, having risen to Vice President/Management Director was instrumental in the creation of award winning campaigns for brands as diverse as Bermuda Department of Tourism, IBM, Heinz, Amtrak and many others. He transitioned to publishing when he joined Travel + Leisure magazine, managing Caribbean accounts, T+L parent company American Express, and other assignments. He also helped launch both Travel + Leisure Family and Golf brands. It was during this time that Barry began to get more involved with CTO as a member of the Board of Directors from 1998-2008 and 2011-present. He also served and continues on the Board of the CTO Foundation, and was on the Audrey Palmer Hawks Scholarship Foundation Board for many years. He is tireless in marshalling the dedication of the CTO Allied membership in support of the Region and was awarded the Caribbean Tourism Allied Award at the 2008 ACTS Conference in Washington, D.C. Barry has also prioritized the education of the next generation of tourism leaders, and worked with the CTO to develop the Caribbean Youth Congress, now celebrating its 18th year. Barry has also worked at both Robb Report and Wall Street Journal. Barry joined AFAR Media in 2010 – the experiential luxury brand that explores destinations and travel through the insights of locals. AFAR is a long time partner of many destinations and partners across the Region and is proud to drive increasing amounts of business to the Caribbean.
- MAURICIO PATINO, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM MICE OPERATIONS (MEETING, INCENTIVES, CONFERENCES, EXPOS)
Mauricio Patino is no stranger to the hospitality and travel industry. Mauricio Patino, having been born and raised in the Garden State-New Jersey, with a degree in Hotel & Tourism achieved in the City of the Eternal Spring, Medellin-Colombia, to having the knowledge of hotel operations and sales & marketing with popular Big Apple-New York City hotels and resorts, his journey continues. Patino has been contracted by a diverse number of hospitality organizations as well as federal and local government agencies including the United States Department of the Army, the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (USVI), tour companies in Europe and global hospitality corporations. A fluent Spanish speaker, he has also worked on tourism industry projects in cities across South America. With an entrepreneur mindset, he endeavored on a path in 2016 which led him to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. His role in bringing awareness of the USVI brand to new and repeat Group and MICE meeting planners and leisure corporations alike, have led the Territory in earning numerous travel awards. Currently, he is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Tamba Bay Chapter and is the incoming President of the Florida & Caribbean Chapter for the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE). He also has a CITP designation (Certified Incentive Travel Professional).
- GUY BRITTON, VP AND THE MANAGING EDITOR OF CARIBBEAN JOURNAL
Guy Britton is VP and the Managing Editor of Caribbean Journal, Caribbean Journal Invest and Caribbean Travel Advisor. Guy joined Caribbean Journal in 2012 after 23 years at Bonnier Corporation where he was the publisher of Caribbean Travel and Life and associate publisher of Islands and Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazines. Guy has been working in Caribbean hospitality publishing and traveling the Caribbean since 1984. Guy is an avid boater and sailor and lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL with his wife.
- JANNAH & KIYANNA HANDY, CO-FOUNDERS OF BLK MKT VINTAGE
Jannah and Kiyanna Handy are the co-founders of BLK MKT Vintage, a Brooklyn-based vintage/antique concept shop that specializes in collectibles and curiosities, representing the richness of black history and lived experience. Their passion for material culture and found objects has led them to interior design projects, personal sourcing, set design, prop rental, museum loans and other curatorial projects in media/entertainment, education, the arts & philanthropy. The two have over 15 years in collecting and sourcing experience combined, managing a flagship retail location in their hometown Brooklyn, New York and an e-commerce shop. Jannah and Kiyanna are both executive Board Members of Weeksville Heritage Center and first-time authors of the forthcoming BLK MKT Vintage: Reclaiming Objects and Curiosities That Tell Black Stories. Social Handles: @blkmktvintage
- SHARON FLAX BRUTUS, OWNER OF WHITE OLEANDER DESTINATIONS
Sharon currently calls herself a Tourism Experience Curator and runs her own Destination Management Company White Oleander Destinations. Most recently she was named Managing Partner at Virgin Gorda Villa Rentals -a luxury portfolio of 33 villas. She is currently the Interim Chair of BVI Yachting, Hotel and Tourism Association. Sharon previously held positions at the senior executive with Rosewood Little Dix Bay. Sharon has utilized her knowledge and verve to successfully steer through the hospitality and tourism sector, making notable accomplishments along the way. Under her tenure as Director of Tourism of BVI 2013-2020, arrivals grew continuously, with 2016 being a benchmark historical year for BVI industry. From the increase in tourism arrivals, to strategic vision for the rebounding of the sector after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, to her destination training program for the British Virgin Islands in conjunction with the Disney Institute and her precedent setting Seeds if Love program , Sharon’s love of tourism is all encompassing. She is also a community leader and activist and Chair of the Virgin Gorda Recovery Operations Center (VGROC), Sharon has dedicated her time to focusing on the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, through community involvement. She was recently recognized in the BVI as a VI ICON of Tourism.