St. Kitts Tourism Authority Expands U.S. Market Presence Through Strategic Trade Engagements

Basseterre, St. Kitts – The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has successfully strengthened its presence in the U.S. travel trade market through strategic initiatives led by Business Development Manager, Danielle Weekes. These efforts aimed to deepen engagement with key travel professionals, enhance destination awareness, and drive future bookings for the destination.

Kicking off a robust calendar of engagements, the Authority participated in the Chicago Travel & Adventure Show from February 1–2, 2025. Danielle Weekes connected with influential travel agents and industry stakeholders during the event, promoting St. Kitts as an attractive and authentic Caribbean destination.

As part of this activation, St. Kitts also took part in the FAM-TAS program in Chicago, a unique educational and networking opportunity designed specifically for pre-qualified travel advisors. Held on the Saturday of the Travel & Adventure Show, this platform allowed 90 advisors to gain in-depth insights from top destination representatives. The program served as a vital touchpoint to educate and empower advisors to better market and sell St. Kitts to their clients.

The momentum continued with Caribbean Village Chicago on February 3, where over 100 travel agents attended the daytime session, and another 100 participated in the evening session. These events offered prime opportunities for relationship-building and increased visibility, with Weekes showcasing the island’s rich tourism offerings to engaged U.S.-based agents.

The Authority recently also participated in Caribbean Village, held in Charlotte, NC (March 31), and Atlanta, GA (April 1), an event designed to connect Caribbean destinations with travel professionals. Representing St. Kitts were Danielle Weekes and Allison Schultz, Sales Representative – Southeast U.S., who continued to highlight the destination’s diverse tourism offerings. Caribbean Village featured a trade show, destination presentations, and roundtable sessions alongside industry representatives from Aruba, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Antigua & Barbuda. Additionally, hotel brands such as Sandals, Royalton, Palladium, and Secrets Jamaica, along with airline partners Delta and Frontier, contributed to robust networking opportunities.

Weekes and Schultz engaged with 322 travel agents during Caribbean Village in Charlotte and Atlanta, fostering meaningful connections and reinforcing St. Kitts’ appeal as a premier Caribbean destination.

Further strengthening the destination’s visibility, the St. Kitts and Nevis U.S. Spring Roadshow took place from March 24–27, 2025, covering Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. This collaborative initiative, executed in partnership with the Nevis Tourism Authority and key industry stakeholders—including Royal St. Kitts Hotel, Four Seasons Resort, Nevis Sun Tours, and Star Clippers—provided travel professionals with valuable insights into the destination’s accommodations, experiences, and unique selling points.

Key representatives on the roadshow included Anita Nightingale, Chief Marketing Officer; Danielle Weekes, Business Development Manager; Deborah Traussi, Northeast Sales Representative at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority; Kerese Elliott, Policy Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, Nevis; and Sueann Collins, Digital Media and Communications Officer at the Nevis Tourism Authority. The initiative successfully engaged approximately 200 travel agents across multiple locations, facilitating discussions with industry leaders such as Delta Vacations, Classic Vacations, and Apple Leisure Group, reinforcing long-term growth strategies for the destination.

Additionally, Weekes and Traussi represented St. Kitts at the Washington D.C. Travel & Adventure Show on March 29–30, 2025, where they connected with influential travel agents and industry stakeholders. This annual consumer and trade event provided a platform to highlight St. Kitts’ diverse offerings, capturing the attention of U.S. travellers seeking unique Caribbean getaways.

Reflecting on these engagements, Weekes stated:

“Building strong relationships with travel professionals is key to increasing awareness and driving bookings for St. Kitts. The response from agents across these events has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the destination’s appeal and the demand for authentic Caribbean experiences. Our participation in these initiatives has set the stage for continued growth in the U.S. market.”

With these strategic trade activations, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority continues to position the destination as a leading choice for travellers, ensuring a sustained presence in key markets and fostering increased visitor arrivals to the destination.