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