Jan. 7, 2008 — Pregnant? Better enjoy the Caribbean while you still can!
That — more or less — is the message going out from the Department of Tourism, working in conjunction with Mothers Work, the world's largest maternity-clothes maker, which operates more than 1,500 stores.
"The Time for Two babymoon package is expected to reach 80 percent of pregnant women in the United States and aims to help couples enjoy a romantic interlude in America's Caribbean before the diaper changing and midnight feedings begin," reads a news release from the Department of Tourism. "Expectant parents who book a room at a participating hotel or resort will receive an intimate dinner for two, a romantic sunset sail, his and her spa treatments, a USVI-branded baby T-shirt and cap, a front-pack baby holder, a round of golf, shopping certificate and professional pregnancy photo. Couples will also receive a fourth night free on their next visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands."
The partnership with Mothers Work — the parent company of A Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity, Motherhood Maternity and Destination Maternity retail stores — also includes a sweepstakes. A family that wins a "beautiful baby" photo contest will win a return trip for two to the territory. Parents will be able to enter photos of their baby online at usvigetaway.com//babymoon. The winning photo will be selected randomly and featured on the cover of a local newspaper.
The promotion, which includes ads online and in national print publications, is expected to reach an estimated 500,000 women with average household incomes of $60,000. Participating hotels on St. Croix will include the Buccaneer, Divi Carina Bay and Carambola Beach Resort and, on St. Thomas, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Marriott Frenchman's Reef and Wyndham Sugar Bay. Travel for the Time for Two Package must be booked between Jan. 1, 2008, and February 2, 2009 for travel from April 1, 2008, through May 31, 2009.
"Mothers Work is the perfect partner for this promotion," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, commissioner of tourism, according to the release. "By enticing expectant parents with a romantic babymoon and encouraging them to come back for a fourth night free, we hope that they will make traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands a family tradition for years to come."
The release directs people to check out usvitourism.vi for tourism information.
"When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel — including online check-in — making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever," the release says. "As a U.S. territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens."
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