1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: What's up. 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 2: It's way up with Angela Yee and I have a 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 2: really special guest and I'm excited to have you here 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 2: so we can welcome you to what we have going 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 2: on here. But Commissioner Joseph Baschalti, who is the Commissioner 6 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 2: for the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, so welcome. 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: I know you've been here quite a bit. 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 3: So I've been in the city many times. I actually 9 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 3: worked here three different times throughout my career. And you know, 10 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 3: I always appreciate coming to New York City. I love 11 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 3: it in the summer because there's a different kind of 12 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 3: energy right in the summertime. You know, people are out, 13 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 3: you know, fortunate to be staying right around Times Square. 14 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 3: So it's super busy, right. I think today's Yoga Day, 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 3: International Yoga Day, so it's like yoga from six o'clock 16 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 3: this morning, you were doing yoga. No, I was just 17 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 3: listening to them tell people what to do. 18 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: I actually love yoga. 19 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: I was telling somebody the other day when it comes 20 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: to like getting rid, if you have any back pains 21 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: or any type of like anything, yoga will cure all 22 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: of that. 23 00:00:58,560 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: And so oh, I didn't know. 24 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 3: Just try one of these days. Yeah, it didn't move me. 25 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: Today, Okay, didn't move you all right. 26 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 2: Well, I want to talk about you know, everybody saw 27 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 2: that we were out in St. Thomas for Carnival, and 28 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 2: I want to thank you because, honestly, between you and Ayana, 29 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: who is working with you and contacted us to come 30 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 2: out there, my friends and I were like, this is 31 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: one of the best trips we've ever been on. One 32 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 2: of my friends, Koya, said this was actually her favorite 33 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 2: trip ever. 34 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 3: Nice, you know, and love to hear that. 35 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 2: We really did have a great time. And I've been 36 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: to Saint Thomas quite a bit. But I want to 37 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: talk about the US Virgin Islands overall. First, so for 38 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 2: people listening right, for the US Virgin Islands, you don't 39 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: need a passport if you're coming from the United States 40 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 2: because it's. 41 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 3: Part you're citizen. You're coming from the United States, No 42 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 3: passport necessary, okay. 43 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 2: And what are the islands that are included, because you know, 44 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: we have the British Virgin Islands and then we have 45 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 2: the US Virgin. 46 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 3: So the US Virgin Islands, three main islands of Saint 47 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 3: Thomas where you were for Carnival, Saint John where we 48 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 3: have our celebration that's happened in the last week of 49 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 3: June into fourth of July, fourth of July. And then 50 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 3: of course the biggest USBI is Saint Croix, Okay, and 51 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 3: that is where we have the celebration that happens right 52 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 3: around New Years. 53 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: All right, and so and you know, I was there 54 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: during the pandemic, which was for me, first of all, 55 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: didn't have my passport because I had to get it renewed, 56 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: and it just wasn't happening during that time, and I 57 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: was like, I have to go somewhere. 58 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: And I've been to Saint Thomas on a few occasions. 59 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 2: I've been to Saint John as well, and so I 60 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 2: ended up going and spending a week in Saint John. 61 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: And it was really nice. 62 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 2: And you guys did a great job, by the way, 63 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: during COVID and during the pandemic. 64 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: What was that like for you? 65 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was. It was stressful in the sense that 66 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 3: we knew our governor, Governor al but Brian, he knew 67 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 3: that right now seventy percent of our GDP is driven 68 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 3: by direct or indirect tourism. So we knew when we 69 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 3: shut down in March that we had to do something, 70 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 3: and we just couldn't stay closed. So we had conversations 71 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 3: with our whole commissioner and the whole COVID team, and 72 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 3: then we made an announcement that we won't reopen. So 73 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 3: he was like, Joe, you got to get out to 74 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 3: see if the airline is going to fly to us, 75 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 3: see if the hotels are going to be ready. Because 76 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 3: of course we had to protect against the residents getting sick, 77 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 3: and collectively we all worked together. I worked out really 78 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 3: really well for us. So we opened in June or 79 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 3: twenty and then we did extremely well, actually better than 80 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 3: any of us thought, because people wanted, like you wanted 81 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 3: to get. 82 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 2: Away, Casper, I want to go somewhere, and we definitely stayed. 83 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:19,639 Speaker 2: You know, we had a villa, so we definitely kind 84 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: of stayed there, but we were able to venture ound 85 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 2: a little bit with our masks on and go sit 86 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 2: outside places. 87 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. So we worked with our local hotels, villas, restaurants, 88 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 3: bars to have protocols that allow people to come and 89 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 3: get out if they wanted to, and I worked well. 90 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 3: And then we had a portal that allowed people to 91 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 3: have certain tests, COVID tests to come in and then 92 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: when the vaccinations came out. You could show your vaccinations 93 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,839 Speaker 3: to get in, so it was well organized in terms 94 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 3: of what was there. And then the most important thing 95 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 3: that we found is people don't go on vacation to 96 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 3: get sick. So people would come in and they were 97 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 3: following what they had to follow. 98 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, we are not playing those games. 99 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 3: And we want to coming out so. 100 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: You don't have to isolate somewhere, right, So. 101 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 3: It worked out really really well. We did extremely well 102 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 3: and terms of our tourism product and a whole they 103 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: kept us up and then we were fortunate enough that 104 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 3: our numbers didn't spike. 105 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: Like some of the other places. 106 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 3: So we had a couple of spikes like around busy 107 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 3: times Thanksgiving and Christmas time, but they weren't totally out 108 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 3: of control. And I think a lot of that had 109 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 3: to do with, you know, people really following the protocols 110 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 3: and people who got sick, you know, our team was 111 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 3: ready to deal with them, and I mean on the 112 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 3: health care side. And then you know, as we continue 113 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: to get more people vaccinated, that helped in terms of 114 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 3: you know, keeping the numbers down. And then throughout the 115 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 3: as we moved from you know, the earlier stages of 116 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 3: the COVID time. Then we moved into having the portal, 117 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 3: and then we moved out of the portal as things changed. 118 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 3: And we've been fortunate enough to be here in twenty 119 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 3: twenty four and our tourism product is doing extremely well. 120 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 3: So thank you and everybody else that helps us promote 121 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 3: what a great vacation time you can have any usb. 122 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: You know, one of my first vacations ever was to 123 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 2: Saint Thomas. And I know I told you this offline previously, 124 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,679 Speaker 2: but my best friend from carlis Auntie Gold. Her family 125 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 2: they would rent a villa. It was like all the 126 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 2: way on top of this mountain. Every year they're like, 127 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: you can come, just get your flight and come with us. 128 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 2: And when I tell you like for me to have 129 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 2: that as my first vacation, it was one of the 130 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: most amazing experiences that. 131 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: I ever had. 132 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: And I know I told you this before. We went 133 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,280 Speaker 2: to go to Greenhouse and Greenhouse is still there. This 134 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: was so long ago, but I just remember going to 135 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: a party at Greenhouse and having like the time of 136 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 2: my life. Cause it's one in Saint Martin also, and 137 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: then one in Saint Thomas, and then the shopping in St. 138 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 2: Thomas has always been amazing. 139 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's That's one of the things that 140 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 3: we feel really good about is that we have places 141 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 3: like the Greenhouse has been around for decades that still 142 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 3: offers the same laid back island experience. Of course, the 143 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 3: shopping still does really well, particularly on the cruise ship side, 144 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 3: so lots of people come in, particularly to shop in 145 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 3: Saint Thomas especially, and that's been working really well. And 146 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 3: of course you mentioned and the mountains, right, so we 147 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 3: have lots of villas and houses on the tops of mountains. 148 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 3: I have a funny story with one of my old 149 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 3: business school mats that came down with me one time 150 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 3: and we were in the Greenhouse funny enough, and I 151 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 3: was like, it goes down. I was like, dude, I'm 152 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 3: getting ready to leave. He's like, don't worry about it. 153 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 3: I'm gonna get to the house. I was like, you 154 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 3: know what the house is. He said, yeah, it's right 155 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 3: up in the mountain. I'll just get there. I was 156 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 3: like what, But he did, no, he did it. I 157 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 3: ended up staying with him because you know, the mountains 158 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: in the night, you really don't know, especially you you 159 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 3: don't know where you're going. 160 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: And one thing I do love about it what you 161 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: just said. 162 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 2: It is Also it feels like very safe to me, 163 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: And that's a big deal for me as a woman 164 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 2: when I'm traveling and I think about, like where can 165 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: I go where I'm not going to be like I'm 166 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 2: stuck on the resort. I can't go anywhere when I 167 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 2: go there. You know, there's a lot of we went to. 168 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: What was the restaurant we went to, Ayana is a 169 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: black owned restaurant. It was the Welcome Dinner Rendezvous. Yes, 170 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: we went to Rendezvous. When I tell you like that waterfront, Yeah, 171 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: that was beautiful. 172 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think I think one of the things that 173 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,919 Speaker 3: we we because been a big tourism destination for a 174 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 3: long time. I think our residents one respect tourists visitors 175 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 3: because they understand how important it's our economy. Secondly, and 176 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 3: more importantly, we want tourists to be safe, right, because 177 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 3: if you're not safe, then it impacts the quality of 178 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 3: life for all of us. So there's always this understanding 179 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 3: of uh with tourists for the most part, uh, leave 180 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 3: them alone. Yeah, they helped their help to help keep 181 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 3: keep all of us living. 182 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: Everybody was friendly though, And I think the. 183 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: Third thing that we do is we respect your privacy. 184 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 3: So people know you and they know of you, and 185 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: if you want to engage, they'll engage. If you don't 186 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 3: really want to engage or you're doing your own thing, 187 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 3: they'd be like, oh yeah, essentially, yo, she's so cool, 188 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 3: and then they'll just kind of go about our merry 189 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 3: business and engaging. 190 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 2: While I was out there, because we were so first 191 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: of all, love the hotel that we stayed at. Every 192 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 2: when I tell you, like, everything was perfectly planned and 193 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: laid out for us. 194 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: But we did go to Juve. 195 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 2: And I know you were saying earlier that like, I 196 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 2: don't know how y'all do it to be out like that, 197 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: because we woke up at five in the morning to 198 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: get up and go party all day and it was 199 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 2: like the hottest day. 200 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: It was like one hundred and something degrees. 201 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: But I will say, like, just to see everybody outside, 202 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: all different ages, everybody dress however they wanted to dress, 203 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: even the people who were working and like cleaning the street, 204 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 2: they were dancing partying. I was like, Okay, this is 205 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: a total vibe. Like it felt very you know, it 206 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: felt very unifying for me to be able to you know, 207 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: I launched the show. I've been working really hard. I 208 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 2: haven't been on a vacation, and so when Randy up 209 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 2: here at I Heeart was like, would you be down 210 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 2: to go to you know the same time as Carnival, 211 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: I was like, sign me up. 212 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 3: That's great. Well maybe next year, maybe would bring the 213 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 3: way up down to the USVI next year. 214 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: Listen, I have plans, trust me and commission to Joe. 215 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: You're here for a reason. We have big plans. 216 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: But I really like when I get to go somewhere 217 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 2: and then I can like encourage people, you know, because 218 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 2: people will ask you, like, where's a good place to 219 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 2: go on vacation. It was great for a girl's trip, 220 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: you know, just for for the ladies listening my friends. 221 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: Only some hot guys out here too, so they enjoyed 222 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: themselves with that part. But we also what we did 223 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: that I really love was we went to Saint John 224 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: for the day and we went to Trunk Bay, which 225 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 2: was voted the number one beach in the world out 226 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 2: of all the beaches they had the top fifty beaches 227 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: and Trunk Bay was number one on that list. 228 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're really proud of it. We have beautiful beaches 229 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 3: all over the USBI and Saint John has probably the 230 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 3: most pretty beaches in a small little island that I 231 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 3: can think of. And I've traveled all over the Caribbean 232 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 3: and Trunk Bay is just one of them. I mean, 233 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 3: I don't know how many beaches you went to when 234 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 3: you want Saint John just that one. 235 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: But next week to get back to Carnival, Yeah, exactly. 236 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 3: The next time, we'll get you around on the boat 237 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 3: so you could visit them from the water side and 238 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 3: come into the beaches, which is a totally different experience 239 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 3: than when you come from the land side and go 240 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 3: to the beach and leave. But we were happy. Trunk 241 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 3: Bay has been iconic for many, many years. If you 242 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 3: look at some of the posters of the USBI over 243 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 3: the years and ma gazines, Trunk Bait is the is 244 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 3: the spot that they use a lot, from the under 245 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 3: Underground Museum to all of the other things that you 246 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 3: have on the beach itself, and just the pure beauty 247 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 3: of it. Uh. It still almost has that innocent fear 248 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 3: when you go there, even though you know thousands of 249 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 3: people go there every. 250 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 2: Year and you've done a great jab you guys have 251 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: spacing out like the events so you know, I was 252 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 2: at Saint Thomas Carnival and right now in Saint John 253 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 2: they're having the Saint John Celebration right which you were 254 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 2: talking about. 255 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 3: That kicks off similarly, you know six Days in the Village, 256 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 3: which is our nightly music festival that's free, where we 257 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 3: have the best acts from around the world, Soca reggae, 258 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 3: uh and then we we what we've added over the 259 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 3: last year as. 260 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: The band Patrice Viberts, A Dextadabs, Bungee, Garland, Richie Spice. 261 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 3: You got it. All of those we bring in. White 262 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 3: Cleff is gonna be in Saint John. So that's so 263 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 3: what we've been trying to do is since we do 264 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 3: these carnival events and we're almost trying to make a 265 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 3: music festival, so you have to really have different types 266 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 3: of people. So we the Vito and Saint Croix last year. 267 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 3: Now we got White Cliff, We had Shaggy in St. Thomas, 268 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 3: which who was a crossover. 269 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: Artist, Shaggy. 270 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 3: So we've been doing it and people. What it also 271 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 3: does is it allows different kind of people from all 272 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: sorts of race, religion, ages to come out and like 273 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 3: you mentioned in Juvid and just be part of a 274 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 3: vibe and we love it. 275 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: And those white people were getting down to I just 276 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: want to say I was on there. I got some 277 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: videos those white people was losing their minds at Duvet. 278 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: But I did love to see it. You know. 279 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 2: It was all, like you said, all different kinds of people. 280 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 2: They were young people. They were like little babies out 281 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 2: on you know, on shoulders. 282 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 3: You know, we got to get that culture in you 283 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 3: from early. 284 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: Listen the kids were dancing. 285 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: I was like, this is honestly like to feel like 286 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 2: it's a family thing. 287 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: It's all everybody respecting each other. 288 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,079 Speaker 2: And I didn't feel like anything, felt like something was 289 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 2: about to go down, you know how we are. I'm 290 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: from Brooklyn, so you see somebody push all of a sudden, 291 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: everybody start. 292 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: It was nothing like that. 293 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 3: Now, I think. I think that that was one of 294 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 3: the probably the proudest parts of this entire carnival. We 295 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 3: didn't have any major violent incidents. And I give kudos 296 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 3: to our legal team, excuse me, our police departments and 297 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 3: all the planning because we do have a philosophy which 298 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 3: is uh to prevent. So we made sure that you know, 299 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 3: when you went out there, the law enforcements was all around. 300 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: And I tried to go to the bathroom. 301 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:28,559 Speaker 2: I was like, you guys, no, no, no, we got 302 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 2: to You can't just walk around like that. 303 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 3: So so that law enforcements was around and that helps. 304 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 3: And I think people also recognize that when you do 305 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 3: act up at these big cultural events, that means that's 306 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 3: it for you if you get caught, right, So people 307 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 3: people just just say, well, it's. 308 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: Not worth it because it is a good time. 309 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 2: People are drinking, and sometimes that can lead to you know, 310 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 2: people have been drinking like all day from five in 311 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 2: the morning, and as you mentioned. 312 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 3: It was hot, so drinking and the sun doesn't doesn't 313 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 3: help either. But you know, I think there was also 314 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 3: you know, we we also have the water trucks, right, 315 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 3: so if you're not gonna drink it, then we just 316 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 3: spray you with water. 317 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. I saw that too. 318 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 2: Nobody cared about their here by the way, all right, 319 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 2: and then let's talk about Saint Curix because that carnival 320 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: is the last week of December and it goes through 321 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 2: January fifth. And by the way, my birthday is January third, 322 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 2: just that I put that out there. But what's happening 323 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 2: for Saint Croix because we talked about Saint John, We 324 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: talked about Saint Thomas, but Saint cry is coming up next. 325 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a cruising Christmas festival. Wonderful opportunity for people 326 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 3: that are looking to spend New Year somewhere different. So 327 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 3: Saint Croix is that place. Uh. We have the same 328 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 3: type of nightly events with world class acts every night 329 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 3: for free for you to come out to see in 330 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 3: our village favor. There's a juve that that happens, which is, 331 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 3: you know, for the people that may not know. That's 332 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 3: where the bands go out and play on trucks and 333 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 3: people tramp or or dance along the trucks. 334 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: And but don't mean nothing good here. They dance. 335 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 3: They they dance up this the quote unquote route. And 336 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: then of course we have a parade, and I think 337 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 3: you were in the parade. Yeah, in the parade where 338 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 3: everybody gets dressed and they wear their costumes and they 339 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 3: dance and have fun for like four or five hours. 340 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 2: It felt longer than that. And I just want to 341 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 2: point out and not to call you out. Commission to Joe. 342 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 2: We were outside walking on that street and then we 343 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 2: stopped at your office. 344 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: It was nice air conditioning. You looked very cool. 345 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 2: I was like, how come Commissioner Joe is not out 346 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: here in his costume. 347 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 3: I had my years at that back in the day, 348 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 3: so I'm past that. Now I got an excuse. Now 349 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 3: I'm working. I gotta oversee everything. 350 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: But no, you're right. 351 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 2: That was honestly, like so much fun just walking along 352 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 2: and everybody's dancing and having a good time. 353 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: It was wild. I don't know if I could do 354 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: the whole route. I think, like, we got to start, but. 355 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 3: You know, it's like everything else, you gotta build up. 356 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 3: So you did Sat Thomas. Every time you get to 357 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 3: Saint Croix and then back to Saint Thomas, you'd be 358 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 3: a proven fetter all around. 359 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: Now. 360 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 2: The other thing I saw, I book a lout of 361 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 2: my travel also on Expedia and expedia dot como so 362 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 2: ranks Saint Thomas the number one trending domestic summer destination. 363 00:14:56,160 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was another huge, huge wind for to be 364 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 3: in all of these destinations that people could go through 365 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 3: go through. You know, we actually number one for the world, 366 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 3: number one domestic, but we were very very happy. It 367 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 3: goes to show the work that our team has been doing. 368 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 3: People have been following, we've been very focus on how 369 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 3: we market and who we market to. And what we've 370 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 3: seen is people really are appreciating the opportunity to go 371 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 3: to the USBI because people could go anywhere to vacation, right, 372 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 3: it's your money, you decide where you want to go, 373 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 3: and people have been coming to the USVII. And then 374 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 3: to have Expedia who you know, we know the thousands 375 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 3: of people a book a day on Expedia now to 376 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 3: say hey, you know when they're searching out like Saint 377 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 3: Thomas is popping up. Saint Thomas is popping up. So 378 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 3: we feel really good about it. What I can tell 379 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 3: you is our summer so far has been very, very impressive. 380 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 3: Our flights are coming in full, the cruise ships are 381 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 3: coming in full. So USBI is really trending in the 382 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 3: right direction. And that's why we continue to try to 383 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 3: find people like you who've been there before, but to 384 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 3: come back now and share with people the experiences because 385 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 3: I think a lot of us when we travel, particularly 386 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 3: for vacation, you know, we always want that inside track, 387 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 3: right been there before you like. 388 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: You know, the best restaurants. 389 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: And I think that's been helping us a lot. And 390 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 3: I think we also have had we've been moving our 391 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 3: brand into more national, big places. So we we have 392 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 3: a deal with the New York Jets the game, so 393 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 3: we have a mess light and then we do the 394 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 3: same thing in the Boston area with the Red Sox. 395 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: Down New York and Boston. 396 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, with different sports, with different sports. 397 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: Okay, I just got to make sure because you know 398 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: how we feel. 399 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 3: About That's just one the other night. 400 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: Sir, we didn't. 401 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 3: Okay, but you know, I know they do. I know 402 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 3: they do. I see it, I feel it when I'm around. Okay, 403 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 3: but but we do do it because you know, we 404 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 3: fly we fly jets in for more than just to 405 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 3: try area, so we gotta do a little something Logan 406 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 3: and from over here, and those those partnerships have really 407 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 3: helped us take our brand to a completely different level 408 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 3: because now people see us in this and they see 409 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 3: us affiliated with very loyal fan bases. So the Jets, 410 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 3: of course have a very Loyd fan base. You know, 411 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 3: hopefully they see Aaron Rogers Rogers plays more than four snaps. 412 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: If not, they can go hang out in Saint Croix. 413 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 3: That's what we've taken on that. 414 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 2: And and speaking of getting there right the flight situation, 415 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 2: I feel like that's also something that is particularly easy 416 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 2: for us to be able to do. So let's talk 417 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 2: about getting to because really I always fly in the 418 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 2: Saint Thomas right when we go to Saint John. 419 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: We and I learned this. 420 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 2: I think, I don't know if you told me this, 421 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 2: but last time I took the car on the ferry. 422 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 2: I don't recommend that, Okay, if you drive like I do. 423 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 2: I was so scared because you have to like back 424 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 2: the car. But it's good to have the car. It 425 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 2: is when you get that, but you can Somebody was like, 426 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 2: just rent a car when you get to Saint John 427 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 2: next time. 428 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 3: It is an experience when they back you up onto 429 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 3: the bar in these little tiny little. 430 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:02,959 Speaker 2: Spaces and they don't back you got to back yourself 431 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 2: with And there was too much of a precious situation 432 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 2: for me because. 433 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 3: People are watching you. 434 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're watching you, and they're like, go ahead, and 435 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 2: then you got to go over to I was like, 436 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: oh my god, I'm so nervous. I don't want to 437 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 2: hit a car because it's like fasted and tight. 438 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 3: But but you know, we we have flights in from 439 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 3: from the tri City, are from Nork and jfk Less 440 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 3: than four hours in. Of course, we fly from Logan 441 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 3: in Boston and Atlanta and Charlotte, and multiple flights today. 442 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: From Orlando from Lando. 443 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 3: People were coming from Orlando and the Saint Croix from 444 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 3: from Atlanta and Orlando. 445 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 1: And so there's direct flights to Saint Croix too. 446 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, direct flights in the Saint Croix too, So so 447 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 3: the easy ways to get in there. And as you 448 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 3: mentioned in the beginning, there's no passport necessary. So we 449 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 3: know when we take a guy's trip, or you take 450 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 3: a family trip or a girls trip, there's always that 451 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 3: one person that doesn't have that passport, like, oh yeah, 452 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 3: I think I got to renew it and then you 453 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 3: got to change now. But once you come to the 454 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 3: US virgional that's not that's not an issue. 455 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: There's nothing worse than when that passed. 456 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 2: When you look at your passport and you're like, oh 457 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 2: my god, I didn't realize my passport was about to expire. 458 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: Is expired. 459 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 2: So yes, that's a belief to not have to think 460 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 2: about that, all right. And then I want to ask 461 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: you this just for my own knowledge, no real reason, 462 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 2: recreational marijuana. 463 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: Where are we with that in the Louis Virgin Islands. 464 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 3: Well, we have we probably have our fair share recreational 465 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 3: marijuana that's not legal yet right happening in the island. 466 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 2: But you know, I want people to know when you're traveling, 467 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 2: you need to know what the rules are because it's 468 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 2: been legal in so many places. 469 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 3: It is legal for medicinal now, and our governor has 470 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 3: been a strong proponent to get it to be on 471 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 3: the recreational side. So we have lots of rules and regulations. 472 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 3: It's working its way through the process. I think that 473 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 3: especially what's going on now in the world and people 474 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 3: are finally now appreciating the medicinal benefits of cannabis that 475 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,959 Speaker 3: that probably were around for a long time. Would we just, 476 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 3: you know, for whatever reason is the legal system didn't 477 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 3: allow for it to be used where it is now, 478 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,719 Speaker 3: So we do have it. It's in place. I think 479 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 3: it's a hope. Excuse me that one of the things 480 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 3: that came out of it was that they could help 481 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 3: the tourism piece in the nih market space that people 482 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 3: come in, they know, could they could get you know, 483 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 3: legal legal cannabis. So it's in play. We're not where 484 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 3: we thought we would be probably three years ago. But 485 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 3: the good thing is just a couple of months ago, 486 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 3: they brought in a new director to market. They brought 487 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 3: in some pieces fill out the board, so the steps 488 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 3: necessary to at least get it to the place where 489 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 3: it can be legal happening. 490 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: Okay, good because nothing like being a yea villa yep, relaxing, 491 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 2: all right. And then I also see that you guys 492 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 2: have this tech Beach conference happening, So talk to me 493 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 2: about that because I think that's something that's going to 494 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 2: be amazing and it's focused on AI. 495 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, so that's going on right now. I think it 496 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 3: started out. I think the opening reception. 497 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: Was last night, and it's the first time they've done 498 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: this in the US. 499 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 3: V I yes, and it's it's this group of people 500 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 3: that are basically big into tech, and of course AI 501 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,640 Speaker 3: is one of the hot pieces of that space right now. 502 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 3: And they bring all these incredible mind together and they 503 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,479 Speaker 3: work by day thinking about how they're going to make 504 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 3: all of us smarter, I guess, and then. 505 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: Night that's easier, right, and then at. 506 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 3: Night they enjoy what we have to offer as a 507 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,199 Speaker 3: Caribbean destination. So what I heard, it seems to be 508 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 3: going well. And then texted me last night to say 509 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 3: it was pouring rain, but they moved inside and the 510 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 3: party didn't stop. 511 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: It was pouring rain and we were there, but we 512 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 1: still have fun. 513 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I will say it was pooring, but it'll rain 514 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 2: for like twenty minutes and then stop and then stop 515 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 2: and we still had you know, still have a time. 516 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 3: So so it's been it's so from that standpoint, the 517 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 3: techt something and we've been doing really well with a 518 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 3: lot of these conferences that have been coming in. Now 519 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 3: people coming in, they enjoy themselves. They're saying at the 520 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 3: same property that you say that when you were down. 521 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 1: Loved then the food was amazing there too, food was amazing. 522 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 3: So so they're doing it. I think it's good for 523 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 3: us in the sense too that they wanted to come 524 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 3: to the USVII, so they've been hearing about the USB. 525 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 3: I have been seeing about USVII. And then the other 526 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 3: thing for us as a tangent type business is we 527 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 3: want people to come and and then think about, hey, 528 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 3: you know I could I could, I could have a 529 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 3: second home, man, I could come back here with my family, 530 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 3: I could do these things. Because that's the other side 531 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 3: of having a good time is then you start to 532 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 3: figure out, now, this might be my destination, destination to 533 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 3: come and then you get to retirement age, it might 534 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 3: be some place to think about. And all of these 535 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 3: things happen with that first seed planet of you actually 536 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 3: going there and liking it, right, because you know, we 537 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 3: know what happens if you go and you don't like it, 538 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 3: then you don't go back. 539 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: You tell everybody don't go. 540 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 2: You know. It's also true that you can like a 541 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 2: place or not like a place depending on who you 542 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 2: go with. Because I've had people not like and I've 543 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: been like, oh my god, I have so much fun. 544 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 2: I love it there, and then I've had people be 545 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 2: like I can't stand it. I'm like, come with me 546 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 2: and we'll have a good time. And I do think 547 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 2: it really does matter a lot who you're with and who. 548 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 2: Like you said, people also want the inside track what 549 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 2: to do. 550 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 3: You know. That's why my people tall me, oh my gosh, 551 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 3: you know, commission I have my honeymoon here. I say 552 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 3: you're still married, because that would determined whether or not. 553 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 2: Oh I'm not gonna say, but like the last time 554 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 2: I came here with my husband, I ain't with him. 555 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,360 Speaker 3: No more exactly. But it's like. 556 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 2: Recreating something new and like setting the groundwork for you know, 557 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 2: for you to really love someplace and get rid of 558 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 2: those old memories exactly. 559 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 3: Create some new ones. 560 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, create some new ones, you know what I'm saying. Now, 561 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: what was it like for you? Where did you grow up? 562 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 3: I grew up on Saint Thomas. 563 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 1: Okay, what was that like? 564 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,199 Speaker 3: I was great? I mean, you know, it's interest and 565 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 3: I have two kids, and you know, most of the 566 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 3: time when I grew up, you know, everything was outside, 567 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 3: so so you know, all the fruits and being in 568 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 3: the yards and playing ball outside, that's what we did. Uh. 569 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 3: And you know, the sun and the heat was all 570 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 3: part of the experience growing up in the Caribbean. So 571 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 3: it's interesting now when I talk to parents who tell me, 572 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 3: you know, it's too hot outside of the kids, like, 573 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 3: are you kidding me? Exactly? So we have those conversations. 574 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 3: But it was, it was, it was, it was, you know, 575 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 3: it was truly that village experience. So all your friends' 576 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 3: parents knew who you were. It was those days that 577 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 3: that you know, you got in trouble in school, your 578 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: parents would probably know you got in trouble in school 579 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 3: before you got home to tell them. That's how connected 580 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 3: we were as. 581 00:23:58,320 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: It takes the community. 582 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 3: And I think even now, you know, we still have 583 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:03,679 Speaker 3: a lot of that because we're small, you know, and 584 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 3: I have forty five thousand people in Saint Thomas, Saint John, 585 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 3: forty five thousand people in Saint Croix, So we're tiny 586 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 3: in terms of the ability to you know, have your 587 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 3: kids know each other. So even if you are on 588 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 3: opposite side of the political spectrum, your kids probably play 589 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 3: some kind of sport or in some kind of art 590 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,399 Speaker 3: or some kind of dance because we're just tiny, and 591 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 3: I think that helps. I think the other part that 592 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 3: growing up was that we always had this understanding that 593 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 3: people like us were always the ones in power, right, 594 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 3: So we grew up I mean, you know, the governors, 595 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 3: the senators, that's what we saw, the commissioners of tourism 596 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 3: for example, that I do right now. We were always 597 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 3: the one. So it always had that you had that 598 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 3: to tell you that I could do it. Yeah, I 599 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 3: could do it. I can always do it. And even 600 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 3: from the the athletic side, that's one of the things 601 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 3: we always like when athletes come in, we always want 602 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 3: them to talk to the kids so they could tell 603 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 3: the kids. Uh, let them know where they came from, 604 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,120 Speaker 3: what they're doing and how they got what they got too. 605 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 3: And that's what we like to have happened. So, you know, 606 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 3: born and raised in Saint Thomas, still live in Saint Thomas. 607 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 3: I spent a lot of time in the US continental US, 608 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 3: but Saint Thomas is where. 609 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 2: And your background is in business, government, finance. What goes 610 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 2: into being a commissioner of tourism. 611 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 3: Well, it's interesting. You know, my my former career was 612 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:24,439 Speaker 3: investment banking. That's how I was in New York, Okay, 613 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 3: and then you know I moved out to me is. 614 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: That what imagine finance is so important when it comes to. 615 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 3: It is and it's different, right, So you know people 616 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 3: ask me all the time, now you're going back into banking. 617 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 3: I was like, no, I like pretty pictures. Now I'm 618 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 3: in marketing, so it's totally different. And then you know, 619 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 3: career evolved. I did hire it for a while and 620 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:44,120 Speaker 3: then I was in high finance and then I got 621 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 3: into I used to run the big cruise ship facility 622 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 3: in the US CEO president there and then from there 623 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,120 Speaker 3: I was like, hey, I like to tell people how 624 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 3: you know, they need to have a good time. So 625 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 3: that's a good job to have. So that's why I've 626 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 3: been doing ever since. 627 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 1: Well I love that. Well, thank you so much. I 628 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: appreciate you. I know every time you can, I'm here. 629 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 2: Your schedule is packed, but I definitely wanted to make 630 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 2: sure you came through for our audience because I had 631 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: such an amazing time when we all went to Saint Thomas, 632 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 2: when we went to Saint John, when we were in 633 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 2: the US Virgin Islands, my friends and I honestly like 634 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 2: I needed that. It was like a celebration for me, 635 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 2: and so to be able to be part of Carnival, 636 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 2: thank you so much for welcoming. 637 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 3: Thank you. I think I made it now, I made 638 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 3: it to weigh up. I guess the next step is 639 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 3: to get on the podcast. 640 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: Oh you want to do lift service? 641 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 3: No, not yet. I don't think I got I gotta 642 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 3: be out of this job for us, but I do 643 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 3: watch it and I love to you know, I was 644 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 3: telling Diana when we got there, Yeah, we could do it. 645 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 3: I was telling Diana when I watch it, you know, 646 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 3: I always crack up when I watch some of the 647 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 3: comments and the conversations. So so it's good. So thank 648 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:46,959 Speaker 3: you for having me, and thank you for visiting the 649 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 3: us v I and hopefully we'll get you back down excellently. 650 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 2: Know definitely wants to come his families from Saint John. 651 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 2: I'm from Saint Thomas and Saint Crois excellent, so we. 652 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,719 Speaker 3: Got to get him and uh And you know what 653 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 3: I could tell you is when your social media post 654 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 3: went up, people that I know from all over all 655 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 3: over the world, and you said like, oh man, how 656 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 3: do you get Angel? How did you get angel? Your 657 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 3: social media social media market? So keep doing what you're doing. 658 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 2: But honestly, like I know, I get I'm always super busy, 659 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:18,399 Speaker 2: but I'm glad that I made time for that for 660 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 2: myself and for anybody listening. I know a lot of 661 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 2: times you feel like we got to work, work, work, work, 662 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 2: work all the time, but it is important to like rest, 663 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 2: take care of yourself. That was the perfect place for 664 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 2: us to be able to kick back and do that. 665 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:32,199 Speaker 2: And even though going to Carnival and Dubet was a 666 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 2: flurry of activities, it was really fun. It was relaxing. 667 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 2: Everybody felt so comfortable, so protected, you know, just being 668 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 2: in that space. So thank you so much for creating 669 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 2: such a great environment for us. 670 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 3: Thank you. 671 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: See you for my birthday. 672 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 3: Yeah I got to day. 673 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 2: Commissioner Joe, thank you, thank you.