BVI to Headline St Martin Finale
The British Virgin Islands will headline the closing night of Saint Martin’s 5th Festival de la Gastronomie after an official invitation from the Saint Martin Tourist Board. A BVI delegation led by RaeNisia L. Scatliffe will showcase local flavours, cocktails and upcoming events including the Anegada Lobster Festival.
The British Virgin Islands will take centre stage at the closing night of Saint Martin’s 5th Festival de la Gastronomie after an official invitation from the Saint Martin Tourist Board. Scatliffe, Regional Marketing Manager for the BVITBFC, said in a press release that the Territory is “honoured to be showcased as the star destination for the closing night” and sees the appearance as a key opportunity to promote the BVI across a neighbouring market that shares close cultural ties.
Scatliffe will lead the delegation to Saint Martin, accompanied by Events Manager Dirk L. Walters and International Marketing Manager Feliza D. They will be joined by special guests including Chef Tonya Smith, a Virgin Islands culinary educator and caterer, who will serve tasting portions of the BVI’s national dish, fungi and fish.
Long Bay mixologists Lesroy Baptiste and Stephen Marcellin will present a signature cocktail featuring passion fruit, the festival’s highlighted ingredient, described as offering an authentic and “refreshing BVI twist.” The BVITBFC’s participation is part of a broader strategy to increase regional engagement with markets that have direct connections to the Territory.
Officials say the festival provides a platform to strengthen relationships with neighbouring islands, raise the BVI’s profile among visitors and tour operators, and generate interest in upcoming local events. Among the promotions planned at the festival finale will be the Anegada Lobster Festival, scheduled for November 28-30, 2025, and a preview of signature events planned for the BVI’s 2026 events calendar.
For residents and businesses that rely on events and hospitality — from hoteliers and restaurateurs to caterers, fishermen and tour operators — such exposure can translate into more visitor arrivals and bookings during peak festival seasons. Participation in regional festivals also underscores the cultural connections across the Caribbean through shared foodways, music and hospitality.
For BVI residents, organisers say this kind of marketing helps keep the Territory competitive as travellers consider multi-destination itineraries in the region. The closing-night showcase in Saint Martin represents both a cultural exchange and a tourism marketing push for the BVI, aiming to turn goodwill and tasting portions into longer stays and increased interest in the Territory’s signature events.
Primary source: VINO