National travel broadcaster to air six
shows from Virgin Islands
By LYNN FREEHILL
Friday, December 28th 2007
For the second time in as many months,
a travel expert with a nationally syndicated radio program will
broadcast live from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Stephanie Abrams, host of "Travel WITH
Stephanie Abrams" and the featured travel authority on
"Traveling Feet," will transmit six shows from St.
Thomas and St. John resorts during January.
Abrams chose the USVI because she believes
it is a misunderstood destination, she said in a statement.
Beach Sailboat
The United States is "so blessed to have
this incredible island group as our own tropical paradise,"
she said, but since the vast majority of USVI visitors come
by cruise ship, comparatively few people have stayed overnight
in the territory.
"What's more tragic is that these cruise
passengers now think they have seen the USVI," Abrams said.
"The hors d'oeuvres of stopping for a few hours before
running back to a cruise ship cannot give the traveler the sense
of wonderment that comes from really spending time in the USVI,
exploring the islands' beaches, mountaintops, and historic sites,
and immersing one's spirit in this glorious destination."
Abrams plans to broadcast two shows each from
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach
Resort and the Westin St. John Resort & Villas.
The radio personality first interviewed Richard
Doumeng, Bolongo Bay managing director and V.I. Hotel and Tourism
Association board chairman, seven or eight years ago, he said,
and she was always enthusiastic about the territory's position
under the U.S. flag.
This year, Doumeng said, Abrams contacted
USVI hoteliers herself - dismayed that the territory's no-passports-required
status was not as widely publicized as it could be, while a
National Geographic Traveler survey's poor rating for St. Thomas
was receiving more attention than she thought it should.
The consumer travel magazine, which reaches
7.8 million readers, in November placed the island at the bottom
of its "Destination Scorecard" list of the world's
most visited tourism spots, calling it overvisited by cruise
passengers and "totally spoiled."
"Between the passport issue and then
the National Geographic Traveler thing, she thought it was just
crazy," Doumeng said. "She wasn't reading about the
place that she knew."
Abrams, who set her own schedule, initially
had planned to visit St. Croix first, Doumeng said. Having last
spoken to her before Christmas, he said, he had not known that
she had readjusted that plan. Even so, Doumeng believes that
the publicity still will benefit the entire territory - particularly
because over several weeks, she will hit the local highlights
and the hidden spots alike.
"I really think the message is about
the USVI," he said. "As long as they're on one of
these three islands broadcasting nationally on the radio, it's
all good stuff."
Earlier this month, another travel expert
- Peter Greenberg, well-known as the travel editor on NBC's
"Today Show" - broadcast one of his programs from
The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas.
The two nationally syndicated radio shows,
however, differ in tone. Greenberg strives for a more objective,
less promotional presentation, often interviewing journalists
and authors; Abrams says she intentionally avoids those types
of guests, preferring people who directly provide experiences
to travelers.
Abrams' slate of local interviewees still
is being finalized.
She already has developed a list of "10
Compelling Reasons to Visit the V.I.," which is to be posted
on her website.
The reasons Abrams names are: the English
language and U.S. dollar currency; pristine waters for scuba,
yachting and deep-sea fishing; family fun; romantic settings;
a "photographer's paradise" boasting historic castles,
lush tropical plants, spectacular mountaintop views; championship
golf courses; spas; three diverse islands; lodgings for every
lifestyle, expectation and budget from secluded luxury to beachcombers'
condos; culinary options from beach barbecue lobster-bakes to
fine dining; the $1,600 per person duty-free allowance; and
the territory's no-passport-required status.
"Travel with Stephanie Abrams" airs
live coast-to-coast on Sundays from 7-9 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time on the Business TalkRadio network and is re-broadcast at
different times in certain markets. The show is streamed live
at www.sabrams.com
and www.businesstalkradio.net.
- Contact Lynn Freehill at 774-8772 ext. 311
or e-mail lfreehill@dailynews.vi.
- reposted from "http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article?id=17618904"
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