FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
April 4,
2006, 2006
Luana Wheatley 804 639-0177
Email:
lwheatleyvi@aol.com
TOMMY
STARFISH GOES TO SCHOOL
--USVI
HOTEL & TOURISM ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES NEWSLETTER—
US
Virgin Islands, April 4, 2006---Tommy
Starfish, the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association mascot, is packing his
backpack and heading to school. Why? He’s visiting classrooms to educate
kids on the tourism industry, local facts and people, and teaching
students cool things that are a part of Virgin
Islands culture. The premiere issue of the
“Tommy Goes to School” newsletter will
launch in schools April 6, 2006, with expanded distribution later in the
year. The first schools to have Tommy drop in are Leonard Dober
Elementary, Joseph Sibilly and J. Antonio Jarvis on
St. Thomas.
“Tommy
has become a well recognized figure in our community and with kids, said
Beverly Nicholson, President of the Hotel & Tourism Association. What a
better icon to get kids excited about the destinations number one
economic contributor, Tourism, than him. He brings a fun way to learn
into the classroom.”
Articles
in the first issue include: What is Tourism, How Many Virgin Islands, a
factoid on the mongoose, a profile on Ariel Melchior Sr., how to make a
local kite called a “Spanish,” and a word search game.
“I
am delighted with the content of the newsletter, said Dr. Noreen
Michael, Commissioner of Education. It provides a wealth of information
for our students in a fun and appealing format. The Tommy
Goes to School Publication is certain to help our students view
the Tourism industry in a different light. I support and encourage this
publication.”
Tommy
himself will deliver the first issue on Thursday, April 6. He will
appear at the Leonard Dober School at 8:45am,
J. Antonio Jarvis
School at 9:20 am, and Joseph Sibilly School
at 9:45 am.
Children
from other Caribbean islands can also
learn about our islands by visiting the Caribbean Tourism Organization
web site at
www.onecaribbean.org/information/categorybrowse.php?categoryid=869.
To
download a copy of the newsletter, visit the Hotel & Tourism Association
web site at
www.virgin-islands-hotels.com/markets/family.htm.
###
Luana Wheatley
US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association
Director of Marketing
5500 Woolridge Road
Moseley, VA 23120
804 639-0177 phone/fax
www.virgin-islands-hotels.com
