THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — Cuisine has become the top driver for travelers worldwide, as noted in the State of the Industry: Food & Beverage in Tourism report by the World Food Travel Association, based in Portland, Oregon.
Dining and drinking, essential elements of a boutique-style crewed charter yacht vacation, will take center stage at the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, set for November 8th-11th at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande. A highlight of the event will be the Culinary and Mixology competitions. USVI Celebrity Chef and Olympic Boxer, Julius Jackson, will return to host the Show’s Culinary Competition on November 9. Attending brokers will also be treated to a whole host of culinary delights throughout the Show, including breakfast each day and a Champagne Awards Ceremony Reception on November 10, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., hosted by Veuve Cliquot courtesy of Bellows International.
Food and beverage provisioning is a leading economic way the USVI charter yacht sector adds to the territory’s marine tourism revenues. Show organizers, the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), are pleased to announce that four U.S. Virgin Islands companies are the Show’s official food and beverage sponsors: The Market St. Thomas, Moe’s Fresh Market, the West Indies Company, and Bellows International.
“The food and beverages presented on charter are some of the top highlights and a big part of what clients look forward to. If you lack the ice to feature a Bushwhacker at sunset or if the chef fails to understand what the client expects and prepares food not meeting their expectations, the focus could be how the service was subpar, even if the rest of the trip was seemingly amazing,” says Stephanie Lowrey, founder of Songs in the Sails Yacht Charters, in Athens, Georgia, who finds attending the show is an essential aspect of assisting clients picking the best yacht options for them.
Chef Julius Jackson returns to judge the Show’s Culinary Competition. Credit: Mango Media
Birds of Paradise is Culinary Competition 2024 Theme
The Culinary Competition brings the essence of the yachts to the forefront, with crew and chef working together, and food brings the crew and guests together, says Chef Jackson. “So, it’s great to push their imagination and give them a boost of inspiration right before charter season. The idea with the Birds of Paradise theme is for chefs to showcase these beautiful plants that are native to our region as well as the vibrant Caribbean colors they bring with them. Charter chefs should try to bring the colors and the unique shape of this plant and flower to life in their dishes. Also, sourcing local ingredients will give extra points!”
Charter chefs can enter any two courses in the competition, choosing from appetizer, entrée, or dessert. Judging is based on execution, appearance, taste, creativity, and color. Chefs can register at usviyachtshow.org/culinary-competition/
Credit: Mango Media
Local Food & Beverage Sponsors
The Market St. Thomas, located at the Tutu Park Mall, and Moe’s Fresh Market, with four locations: Red Hook, Yacht Haven Grande, Charlotte Amalie Waterfront, and the Northside, are the Show’s official food sponsors.
“The food purchased by charter chefs plays a central role in the success of any yacht charter. These ingredients are the foundation of every dish and cocktail, ensuring vibrant flavors. Starting with fresh, high-quality ingredients from Moe’s and The Market St. Thomas is a must,” says Willie Hamed, vice president of both banners.
The stores have expanded their natural, organic, and gluten-free product selections. They fly in fresh fish every other day, allowing clients to source hard-to-find fish and caviar. The grocers have a dedicated provisioning team to help chefs source specific groceries and produce. The Market St. Thomas and Moe’s Fresh Market boasts a large selection of wine and liquors. Provisioning services are available for marina, resort, and villa clients.
Grey Goose vodka, provided by the West Indies Company, and Captain Morgan rum, from Bellows International, are the featured ingredients for the Show’s Mixology Competition. This event takes place on November 8, during the Opening Ceremony & Parade, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Register for the Mixology Competition at https://usviyachtshow.org/mixology-competition/
Grey Goose Essences, Leatherback Beers, and Soca Shores water from West Indies Company, will be served at the Show. Leatherback and Soca Shores are local brands deeply rooted in the community. Attendees can also sample Bacardi Ready to Drink rum punch and mojito from the West Indies Company and Disaronno Velvet liqueur from Bellows International.
New to View
Already at anticipated capacity to show at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas, are more than 65 power and sail, multihulls and monohulls, from 40- to 130-plus feet. One showing for the first time is Nauti Nickel, an 80-foot Sunreef power catamaran, in her first year of charter.
“Nauti Nickel is the pinnacle of Caribbean crewed charters, a flagship for the catamaran space. With a legacy accomplished crew accustomed to silver service, a cruising speed matching power vessels, and an arsenal of toys including paddleboards, eFoils, jet ski, dive equipment, and seabobs, the Nauti Nickel program is setting the standard for the future of chartering. A signature feature of the vessel is the Jacuzzi on the aft flybridge with a surrounding bar, creating a megayacht feel and gathering place for guests to drink and dine as the sun sets to the west,” says Bret van Roden, a partner in Yacht Collective, a charter management company with locations in Fort Lauderdale and the USVI.
Register Now
VIPCA broker members can register (usviyachtshow.org/register/) for FREE. Exclusive Show accommodations with 20% discounts are available at the following by calling and using promo “VIPCA Yacht Show: Bluebeards (bluebeards.com), (1-340-774-1600) -Bolongo Bay Beach Resort (bolongobay.com), (1-800-524-4746) – The Pink Palm Hotel (pinkpalmhotel.com).
Charter yachts can register at usviyachtshow.org/register/).
Strong Sponsor Support
Sponsors of the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show include the USVI Department of Tourism; Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas; IGY Marinas; Mango Media LLC; Catamaran Central; the Gowrie Group representing Trawick and Cigna; Grey Goose, distributed by West Indies Company; Veuve Clicquot and Captain Morgan, distributed by Bellows International; Brava by VIYA; Cardow Jewelers; Yachtly; Rockvision; Moe’s Fresh Market; The Market St. Thomas; Maho Crew; Offshore Marine; Parts & Power Ltd., distributor of Northern Lights; Harbor Shoppers; Nautical Trips & Consulting; Julius Jackson, LLC; the Charter Yacht Broker Association (CYBA), and KLR.
VIPCA is a non-profit marine association dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the charter yacht sector of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine industry. Its initiatives include offering membership benefits, promoting marine tourism, liaising with USVI, BVI, and PR to assist in cooperative efforts; seeking relevant official rulings from Customs and Border Protection (CBP); developing USVI marine infrastructure, including installation of vessel moorings now available at BoatyBall.com; and providing marine vocational training for USVI youth. VIPCA hosts two annual yacht shows, the USVI Charter Yacht Show at www.usviyachtshow.org and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo at www.vibe.vi. www.VIPCA.org
For more information and registration, visit usviyachtshow.org or contact VIPCA at [email protected] or (340) 642-0656.