PR 13th Annual Taste of the Marianas in May

							                                 MAR IANAS VISITORS AUTHOR ITY
                                                 News Release

                                 Tourism is Everybody’s Business!
                                                                      PERRY JOHN P. TENORIO
                                                                      MVA MANAGING DIRECTOR


For Immediate Release-March 23, 2011
For further information, contact:
Perry John P. Tenorio, Managing Director
Marianas Visitors Authority
Telephone: (670) 664-3200/3201 Facsimile: (670) 664-3237
mva@mymarianas.com
www.mymarianas.com



                      13th Annual Taste of the Marianas Returns in May

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) – The month-long 13th Annual Taste of the Marianas
International Food Festival and Beer Garden returns to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, for
back-to-back weekends of food, fun, and festivities.

         Hundreds of visitors and residents are expected to gather for the annual event, which
kicks-off on May 7, 2011, and will continue every Saturday evening throughout the month at
American Memorial Park on Saipan.

         Local hotels and restaurants will offer fine fare at reasonable fare, with most dinner items
at $6 or less. Throughout the evening, live entertainment was offered on the main stage while
secondary entertainment and competitions will take place at the secondary stage.

         Prizes and prestige will be on the line throughout the month during the Chefs
Competition (May 28), pitting hotel junior chefs in a cook-off highlight a select cut of Certified
Angus Beef and local ingredients.                  Other competitions will include the Hotdog Eating
Competition (May 7) and Bartenders’ Cocktail Competition (May 21).

         Local arts and crafts will also be on sale. Celebrated in conjunction with May Tourism
Month, the festival will also give attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest NMI tourism
trends through the My Marianas slideshow presentation.
       The MVA is also encouraging residents to prepare for other Tourism Month must-do,
demonstrating their island pride and culture by wearing island attire or traditional wear during
Hafa Adai-Tirow Spirit Islandwear Day each Friday. Facebook fans of “Hafa Adai Tirow Spirit
Islandwear in the Northern Mariana Islands” who post pictures in May have a chance to win
Taste of the Marianas tokens. One randomly selected fan with an islandwear photo will receive
$10 in tokens each week.

       For more information about Tourism Month activities, contact the Marianas Visitors
Authority at 1.670.664.3200/1 or e-mail Ed Diaz of the MVA at ediaz@mymarianas.com.


The Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are a chain of low coral and volcanic
islands in the West Pacific, offering a friendly, fun and fantastic vacation in paradise. They are an
excellent destination for families, adventure and sports-minded travelers, as well as business people
looking for a tropical stopover when traveling between Asia and North America, and adventurous
travelers looking for new travel discoveries. The Mariana Islands, three hours travel from most cities
in Japan, are served from Japan by Northwest Airlines. From Korea, Asiana Airlines provides daily
direct flights from Seoul and four times a week from Busan. For more information visit
www.mymarianas.com.


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