BVI Chamber of Commerce
OECS Trade Expo 2023 - Excellent Trade Opportunity for Local Small Businesses
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is hosting a virtual regional trade exposition to connect small- and medium-sized businesses with suppliers and buyers for a three-day networking event in May 2023. This event will allow business exhibitors to opportunities to have real-time interactions with consumers, producers and buyers, cost-effective marketing, and to gain more knowledge of their industry. The BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) is coordinating the local
Anegada: The True Optimist
The Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) visited with businesses in Anegada on Wednesday, 6 October 2021. The team was eager to hear the concerns of the businesses and determine how to get their needs met. The most urgent needs are listed below. More visitors are urgently needed.Government fees are becoming more and more unsustainable.Residents reported traveling to Tortola to pay for a work permit that was marked ‘complete’ only to learn that it wasn’t and have to pay to return to pick it
From the Chairman's Desk: Your Chamber Needs You!!!
The past eighteen months have been a chaotic time for Virgin Islands business owners to keep their doors open, and on behalf of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association’s Board of Directors, Management and Staff, I salute all business owners for the persistence they have shown in safeguarding lives AND livelihoodsduring this global health crisis. We especially appreciate our membership for their continued support of the crucial work we do on behalf of the business community. Your business success
BVICCHA Partners with OECS to Discuss Needs of Local Manufacturers!
On 30 July, BVICCHA partnered with OECS to have a dialogue with Virgin Islands ‘makers’. This meeting was quite productive as the Competitive Business Unit (CBU) for the region was keen to learn more about the needs of the manufacturing sector in the region. The points the Executive Director, Keiyia J George pointed out were: The need for a networking platform where businesses can meet to find suppliers or goods;Support with garnering trade agreements so that trade within the region can be
BVICCHA Supports the Private Sector in Educating Employees on Vaccination and Encouraging Them to Get Vaccinated
The BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) conducted two online surveys in June 2021: one to assess members’ perspectives on the topic of vaccination and another to garner business stakeholders’ thoughts on testing. The member respondents represent over 50% of the total membership. Key highlights from the membership survey are as follows: 63% of members support vaccination;nearly 50% said they support requiring employee vaccination;over 90% of member respondents favour the use of rapid
CHTA Issues Guidance to Employers and Hotel Associations
The BVICCHA is a proud member of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). CHTA is the recognized representative of the Caribbean hospitality industry, as well as THE private sector developmental partner by international agencies active in the region, such as the European Union, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the Organization of American States, and the United States Agency for International Development. As the body that represents hotel associations such as the region, CHTA has worked with
BVICCHA Warns of Delayed Economic Recovery
As the proactive Voice of Business, the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) is continuing to raise concerns that the tourism sector is on life support. We are disappointed at the news that the opening of seaports has been delayed for a second time since the initial announcement to open seaports in December 2020. The seaports are the main point of destination access into the Virgin Islands and a further delay to April 2021 at the end of the regular tourism season is another blow to an
BVICCHA Weighs in on New Port Fees
Recently, the BVI Ports Authority issued a press release indicating that they were increasing fees for services the authority offers. Immediately with the release, businesses began to contact the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) and complain. What's very disheartening is that back in September 2020, the BVICCHA reached out to the authority's public relations office to inquire about fee increases and if any were coming for 2020. The reply received said, "…the BVI Ports Authority has
BVICCHA Demands an Update on the Workforce Furlough Extension
The BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) is demanding urgent communication from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration regarding the Government's decision on the workforce furlough extension which expires tomorrow, 31 October 2020. If this deadline is not extended, requiring severance payments will likely bankrupt many businesses. Further, it will become unduly costly to restart the hiring process. With no announcement from Government at this time, the Chamber now
BVICCHA Offers Pandemic and Economic Recovery Recommendations
Today, we would like to share the tireless work the BVICCHA has been proactively doing on behalf of the business community from the onset of this pandemic, recognizing the perceived economic fallout that would result and the predicted recession that would follow. We pause here to thank the Premier and the Minister of Health and their teams for their early and diligent response to the global pandemic to safeguard our community. We stand in support of public health and safety as the priority and we pledge to
BVICCHA Encourages Premier to Set Phased Reopening Dates for Tourism Sector
On Monday, 15 June 2020, the BVICCHA’s Hospitality Committee, in partnership with the Tourist Board, hosted a Hospitality Industry Stakeholders meeting with over 150 stakeholders. Out of this meeting came a few concerns from the industry: 1) Can the territory not have a phased reopening for the different micro sectors; 2) Can the industry get a definite phased reopening date so they can market and prepare accordingly; 3) Are there resources the Government may need that the private sector can assist with;
BVICCHA Encourages Proactive Action in Preparing for the 2020 Hurricane Season
In light of the significant impact of COVID-19 on our businesses, human resource and economy, coupled with the potential impact of the 2020 Hurricane Season, the British Virgin Islands Chamber of Commerce & Hotel Association (BVICCHA) strongly urges the Private Sector and the Public Sector to take proactive measures in safeguarding all human resource, other resources and operations due to the threat of the highly active predicted 2020 Hurricane Season.BVICCHA further notes and emphasizes that hurricanes are
