Nevis builds a bridge to Martha’s Vineyard — culture, connection and new opportunities
Nevis and Martha’s Vineyard might be worlds apart on the map, but last week they came together like long-lost cousins reuniting. At a packed house in Oak Bluffs, with food, music and laughter flowing, the small Caribbean island showed off its charm to one of America’s most iconic summer communities.
The evening wasn’t just cocktails and chatter. It was strategy. Nevis is making a push to connect with US audiences, especially those who value heritage, culture and authenticity. And if you think about it, the link makes sense: Oak Bluffs has long been a symbol of Black excellence and summer tradition, while Nevis — home of Alexander Hamilton and rich with Caribbean history — has a culture and hospitality brand money can’t fake.
Guests at the Vineyard event included Emmy-winning actress Lynn Whitfield and TV host Sunny Hostin, alongside community leaders and long-time Vineyard families. They weren’t just being introduced to a destination; they were being invited to a relationship.
Premier Mark Brantley, making his first official visit to Martha’s Vineyard, captured the vibe with humour. “If you want fried chicken in Nevis, you have to fry it yourself,” he joked, before adding that Nevis has already given America Hamilton and “your financial system — time for you to do your bit.” His wit landed, but so did the message: Nevis is ready to engage, ready to offer its culture and its opportunities to new audiences.
But the spotlight wasn’t only on speeches. The Nevis Tourism Authority team — led by Director of Sales and Marketing, Phéon Jones, and VIP and MICE Director, Shelisia Glasford — laid out how the island is carving its niche. Not by competing on size, but by leaning into sustainable luxury, renewable energy projects, and authentic cultural experiences. “We’re definitely on that circuit, and we want more of it frankly,” Brantley added, signalling Nevis’s place among the world’s most exclusive destinations.
For the Vineyard crowd, it was easy to draw parallels. Both islands share challenges like housing and climate change. Both thrive on community identity and heritage. Both rely heavily on tourism yet want it done sustainably. “It reminds me a lot of Nevis, to be honest,” Brantley said, clearly at home in the Vineyard’s welcoming energy.
The symbolism was strong, but the practical benefits are even stronger. New real estate interest, new tourism streams, diaspora connections, and even renewable investment are all in play. With Nevis positioning itself as a leader in heritage tourism and green innovation, the bridge to Martha’s Vineyard feels less like ceremony and more like a genuine opportunity.
For the visitors who won trips to Nevis that night, the connection is about to get very real. For the rest of the room, it was a chance to glimpse an island that may be small, but knows how to stand tall on the world stage.
And that’s the quiet genius of Nevis’s approach: celebrate culture, build partnerships, and let the world see the island as more than beaches. It’s heritage, it’s hospitality, it’s investment — and it’s ready.
