The St. Kitts Tourism Authority has announced the name of Anne Kelly Fontenelle-Clarke as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer. The appointment will be effective from July 1,2024.
The authorities of St. Kitts Tourism have revealed that Fontenelle in this role will look after the international marketing for the destination, extensively focusing on the travel trade and airline relationships.
She will also lead the strategic planning for media handling, foster partnerships and also play a crucial role in effective communication with the stakeholders.
The authorities have shared that Fontenelle will also manage the leisure and cruise, two major areas for tourism to St. Kitts. Further, she will prioritize the romance and MICE markets also with the aim of enhancing the tourism sector and generating more funds through tourism for the island.
Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism, International Transport, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Employment, and Labour while appreciating the appointment of Fontenelle shared, “that she has over twenty-five years in the tourism and event management sector, particularly in Caribbean travel and in the romance market, is truly admirable.”
Minister Henderson further stated, “She has a proven track record of transforming organizations and tourism authorities into industry leaders through innovative strategies, collaborative partnerships, and exceptional results.”
The minister also stated that the administration is confident that under her leadership, St. Kitts’ demand among air and cruise passengers will increase and will contribute to the ongoing growth of the tourism sector.
Fontenelle will also delve into data analysis and St. Kitts’ performance metrics to understand more about the key audiences that are drawn to the island nation and their behaviours.
She also has plans to work collaboratively with travel agents, tour operators, and airlines to attract more passengers and improve the services to the destination, providing the audiences with the better experience.
Fontenelle shared her excitement to join as the CEO for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, “I am excited to continue driving creative strategies to increase St. Kitts’ visibility, expand into new markets, continue drawing the romance crowd to the island, and ensure it is a top consideration for all travellers.”
Praising the resilience of the island nation, she said, “St. Kitts has emerged as a premier destination on the global stage, demonstrating remarkable resilience post-pandemic.”
Fontenelle, native of Saint Lucia, has also served as a Director of Marketing for the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority in the USA. During her tenure there, she developed several initiatives that positively contributed to the growth of Saint Lucia’s tourism industry.
Fontenelle-Clarke is also the founder of Travel Advisors Selling the Caribbean, renowned as the foremost Caribbean travel advisory company, and has established online support tools for travel advisors.
