BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS — The St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) has launched a new Travel Advisor Board aimed at strengthening collaboration with the global travel trade.
The newly formed board brings together a select group of experienced travel professionals from key source markets, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. By drawing on the board’s collective expertise, St. Kitts aims to refine its destination positioning, strengthen global awareness and ensure its tourism offerings continue to align with evolving traveller expectations.
“The launch of the Travel Advisor Board reflects our continued commitment to strengthening the relationship between St. Kitts and the travel advisor community,” said Kelly Fontenelle, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “By listening to and collaborating with our valued partners, we can stay agile in the face of global trends and evolving consumer behaviour, ensuring St. Kitts remains a competitive and sought-after destination. Travel advisors are the storytellers of our destination, and their insight is the bridge between our vision and the visitor’s experience.”
Members will provide quarterly insight on global travel trends while offering direct input on hotel products, excursions and all-inclusive offerings, with the goal of ensuring the destination’s tourism product meets and exceeds traveller expectations.
In addition to advisory responsibilities, board members will serve as destination ambassadors within their professional networks. This includes participation in exclusive FAM trips and ongoing advocacy through trade and consumer channels. The SKTA says this structure will help ensure its marketing and trade initiatives remain rooted in actionable market intelligence and real-world selling experience.
Among the seven board members is Vinnie Vats from Canada, Managing Director of premier Toronto-based agency Travelair International Inc. With over 35 years of experience, Vats is credited with helping the agency transition from wholesale to luxury retail as well as achieve Platinum status with Sandals Resorts.
Rounding out the board are Paula Iwanski, Debra Hines Brown and Christy Mackley, all representing USA–Southeast; Sara Purdy from USA–Northeast; Judy Mason from the United Kingdom; and Josanne Rogers-Shepherd from the Caribbean.
For more information about St. Kitts, go to https://www.visitstkitts.com/.
