“ASTA’s Caribbean Showcase gives travel advisors the firsthand knowledge and relationships they need to sell the region with greater confidence and authenticity,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA President and CEO. “St. Kitts and Nevis offered an extraordinary setting for our community to connect with the people, culture and experiences that make the Caribbean so compelling to travelers.”
Presented in collaboration with and sponsored by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, this year’s Showcase paired focused business programming with opportunities to experience the destination through the eyes of its people. Advisors connected face-to-face with Caribbean suppliers, tour operators and destination management companies during marketplace meetings and heard from tourism leaders and industry experts during an information-packed General Session.
“Hosting the ASTA Caribbean Showcase here in St. Kitts is more than an honor—it’s a homecoming for the kind of storytelling our island deserves,” said Kelly Fontenelle, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “Having travel advisors on the ground, walking our beaches, tasting our culture and meeting the people who make this destination unspoiled is exactly how we believe our story should be told: firsthand. The St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the St. Kitts Ministry of Tourism deeply appreciate partnerships like this one with ASTA, which put St. Kitts directly into the hands of the advisors who send travelers our way.”
Attendees explored the distinct character of St. Kitts and neighboring Nevis through curated island experiences highlighting the destination’s history, culture, cuisine and natural beauty. In St. Kitts, tour options included a journey aboard the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, visits to Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor and Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and a rum experience at Old Road Rum.
Excursions to Nevis introduced advisors to the island’s historic estates, scenic viewpoints, villages and hot springs. Additional experiences explored the birthplace and legacy of Alexander Hamilton and offered a hands-on introduction to Nevisian cuisine through Cooking with Ras Iroy.
Located along a private beach in Frigate Bay, the St. Kitts Marriott provided an all-inclusive experience for attendees and served as the central gathering place for education, marketplace appointments and networking throughout the week.
Participants left with deeper destination expertise, new supplier relationships and direct insight into experiences that can broaden their Caribbean portfolios and create new opportunities for their clients.
Tags: Zane Kerby, ASTA ASTA Caribbean Showcase Kelly Fontenelle, St. Kitts Tourism Authority
