Kelly Fontenelle has been appointed CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Board, effective July 1st.
A native of St. Lucia, Fontenelle most recently served as marketing director for the St. Lucia US Tourism Board and is also founder of Travel Advisors Selling the Caribbean.
“Mr. Fontenelle’s extensive experience over 25 years in the tourism and events management sector, with a focus on the Caribbean travel and romance market, is truly admirable,” said Her Excellency Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism, International Transport, Civil Aviation, Urban Development, Employment and Labour.
“She has a proven track record of transforming organizations and tourism authorities into industry leaders through innovative strategies, collaborative partnerships and outstanding results. I am confident that under her leadership, we will continue to increase air and cruise passenger demand to St. Kitts and contribute to the continued growth of the tourism sector.”
In this role, Fontenelle will lead the destination’s international marketing efforts with a focus on travel industry and airline relationships, orchestrate strategic plans across earned, paid and owned media, foster profitable partnerships and facilitate effective stakeholder communications. Fontenelle will also focus on leisure and cruises, two sectors that have consistently performed highly in St. Kitts tourism, and will prioritize the romance and MICE markets with the goal of increasing the economic benefits of tourism across the island.
Fontenelle will use data analytics and performance metrics to understand St. Kitts’ key customer demographics and their behavior. She will work with travel agents, tour operators and airlines to grow passenger numbers and improve service to the destination.
“St. Kitts has demonstrated incredible resilience post-pandemic and emerged as a premier travel destination on the world stage,” said Fontenelle. “We look forward to continuing to pursue creative strategies to raise the profile of St. Kitts, expand into new markets, continue to draw romance-seekers to the island and ensure it remains a top choice for all travelers.”
