Though they were 1,100 miles away from the Virgin Islands, visitors to the ballroom at Miami’s JW Marriott Marquis Hotel were able to learn a lot about the territory last week.
Attendees at the Caribbean Hotel and Resort Investment Summit sat and watched as a five-member VI delegation presented them with a list of sizable developments that have occurred in the territory in recent years.
With megayacht marinas, The Moorings’ charter facilities, Sir Richard Branson’s private islands, and a host of smaller properties, investors would do well to plan their next project here, attendees were told.
The visit was all about selling the VI as a good place to do business, said Broderick Penn, permanent secretary in the Premier’s Office.
“Conferences like CHRIS are ripe with the right experts, potential developers, investors, venture capitalists, equity type people,” said Mr. Penn, who attended the event. “It’s the appropriate place to give a pitch that we want to see the BVI developed and that we welcome your interest in doing a project in the BVI.”
The five-member delegation —which also included Premier Dr. Orlando Smith; BVI Tourist Board Chairman Russell Harrigan, who is the publisher of this newspaper; At-Large Representative Archie Christian; and real estate broker Edward Childs — manned a booth at the conference and later held a series of private meetings with potential investors.
See the May 8, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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