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 Dick Doumeng, Owner of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas, 
Presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by The
U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association
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ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (Nov. 22, 2005) -- The U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association honored Dick Doumeng, owner of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas, at the Tommy Star Awards Gala where he was presented with the lifetime achievement �Tommy Star Award of Excellence.�

Considered the �father� of the modern day USVI Hotel & Tourism Association, Doumeng served six different terms as the Association�s president.  Under his direction, he guided the organization using creative methods to raise the non-dues revenue needed to fund a professional association with both the office and staff that met the needs of the local tourism industry.

�Dick was instrumental in setting the tone for our current association,� said Beverly Nicholson, president of the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association.  :Additionally he was important in showing me how to be an effective leader for the organization,� she added.

�It is an honor to receive the Tommy Star Award of Excellence and to be recognized by my peers within the U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association,� said Doumeng.  �I am very proud of the work I have done in my various capacities in the Association and other organizations to help grow the tourism industry for the USVI,� Doumeng added.

Doumeng was one of the first hoteliers to serve on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce where he also held the position of vice president.  While serving on the Chamber board, he was named president of the Community Leader Council.  Doumeng started and chaired the Community Crime Committee and designed and oversaw the Solid Waste Pilot Project that cleaned up and maintained two districts on St. Thomas.  In May 2005, the Chamber honored Doumeng by awarding him the Wilber LaMotta Community Service Award. 

In addition to volunteering locally for the USVI, Doumeng represented the destination regionally and nationally by serving for over 30 years as an officer and board member for the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) as well as director of the American Hotel & Motel Association.  In 1988, Doumeng, along with his wife Joyce, were rewarded for their work as hoteliers when they were named �Caribbean Hoteliers of the Year,� placing them in the CHA Hall of Fame as the only husband and wife team to be bestowed with this honor.

All of Doumeng�s business ventures have been tourism-related with Bolongo Bay Beach Resort as the Doumeng family�s foundation.  He has owned and operated charter boats, four hotels, seven restaurants, a scuba diving company and a live-aboard diving vessel. 

The Tommy Star Award of Excellence for lifetime achievement award is presented to a local tourism pioneer.  Past recipients include Ecedro Wesselhoft, former instructor of the Hotel & Restaurant Training Program at Charlotte Amalie High School, Leona Bryant, former director of tourism, and Dr. Orville Kean, President of the University of the Virgin Islands.

The Tommy Awards Gala, now in its fourth year, was held Nov. 19, 2005 at the Frenchman�s Reef Beach Resort.  This red-carpet event recognized hospitality employees who demonstrated excellence in their specific category and serves as a fundraiser for the association�s education and training fund.

Programs such as the Tommy Star Awards assist the Hotel & Tourism Association in providing scholarships and supporting many school programs.  Already in 2005, over $20,000 has been used for scholarships, school donations, summer employment, and customer service training.

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Contact:

  USVI Hotel and Tourism Association
340-774-6835.

Also See: Jim Pepperdine Recognized as Honorary Caribbean Hotelier of the Year / Aug 2004

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