ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo USVI, the Virgin Islands' newest rum distiller, today announced the grand opening of its state-of-the-art Captain Morgan Visitor Center. Honorable Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. spoke at the milestone ceremony, along with David Gosnell, President, Diageo Global Supply and David Cutter, Chairman of the Board of Diageo USVI. Also in attendance were members of the Governors Cabinet, Honorable Sen. President Ronald E. Russell, and members of the 29th Legislature.

The Captain Morgan Visitor Center is a central part of several tourist initiatives on the island of St. Croix. As part of the Visitor Center initiative, Diageo USVI is working closely with local taxi and tour companies, cruise ships, airlines and hotels to help generate tourist traffic to the island.

Remarking on the completion of the Visitor Center, Governor de Jongh said, "Today's grand opening continues to usher in a new era for St. Croix. This new attraction has already created additional employment opportunities and will undoubtedly augment the island's tourism industry. The distillery and its new Visitor Center demonstrate the strength of the ongoing relationship between Diageo and the US Virgin Islands."

US Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress, Donna Christensen, who was not able to attend the event due to her obligations in Washington, DC, added: "The opening of the Captain Morgan Visitor Center exemplifies the strong and ongoing commitment between Diageo and the people of the US Virgin Islands. Virgin Islanders and tourists alike will continue to enjoy the benefits of this groundbreaking partnership for years to come."

To mark the official grand opening of the Visitor Center, Captain Morgan and the Morganettes conducted a ribbon slashing ceremony at the site with the Captain's own sword. Attendees toasted the opening with Captain Morgan rum punch to celebrate the day, followed by a guided tour of the facility.

Remarking on the day, David Gosnell, President, Global Supply and Procurement, said, "The distillery and Visitor Center is a jewel in the crown of Diageo's facilities worldwide. We couldn't be more pleased with our progress and are honored to work with St. Croix on this exciting endeavor."

The state of the art Visitor Center, adjacent to the distillery, which produces the rum for the Captain Morgan brand in the United States, is located at the Renaissance Park development on St. Croix and is the first of its kind. Visitors will experience an hour long voyage including history and artifacts of the rum industry, tour of the distillery, a movie theater, interactive learning screens, Captain Quarters Bar, multi-sensory systems, and a Captain Morgan merchandise store.

ABOUT DIAGEO USVI

In June 2008, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. and Diageo USVI jointly announced a public-private initiative for the construction and operation of a high capacity rum distillery on St. Croix, USVI. This 30-year commitment will provide a major economic stimulus for the entire Territory of the US Virgin Islands.

Today, all the rum used to make Captain Morgan branded products for the US market comes from the US Virgin Islands thanks to the innovative public-private initiative between the Government of the US Virgin Islands and Diageo USVI. Captain Morgan is a global leader among premium spirits and is the second leading rum in the world.

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Diageo USVI Celebrates Grand Opening of Captain Morgan Visitor Center in St. Croix