St. Kitts Tourism Authority cements media and trade partnerships at the 2012 World Travel Market

LONDON (12TH November, 2012): Delegations representing the St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism Authorities hosted over 20 UK journalists to an authentic taste of the Caribbean at a special WTM media breakfast, Tuesday 6 November, as part of an intensive four day schedule of events for the 2012 World Travel Market.

The journalists representing trade and consumer press as well as online media and bloggers were brought to WTM in style via London’s new Emirates cable car across the Thames, arriving to a St. Kitts and Nevis welcome and breakfast at Caribbean Scene Restaurant.

Representatives from the St. Kitts and Nevis Tourism Authorities; and hotel partners joined UK media on the new London cable car across the Thames this morning, to arrive at WTM in style.

The St. Kitts delegation at World Travel Market was led by St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) Chairman, Alfonso O’Garro and also included Board Members Claire Rawson and Lavern Stevens; Carolyn James, Director of the SKTA Canada office and Saju Ng’alla, Market Communications Manager, together with trade partners representing the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. The SKTA delegation was joined by the UK based team including Lisa Elmes-Bosshard, Market Consultant, sales representatives, Jennifer Hensley and Dale Kelley, and officials from Public Relations Consultants, ‘River Communications’.

Nevis counterparts included Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) Chairman Keisha Jones; John Hanley, CEO; Tourism Advisor Alastair Yearwood, and Julie Claxton, UK Marketing Manager.

At the joint St. Kitts & Nevis Stand, a unique 30 year timeline was the focus for the four day event, charting the development of the destination’s tourism Industry from Independence in 1983 up to the 30th anniversary and beyond, to include new island developments and projects due for completion in 2014-2015.

The St. Kitts & Nevis Stand also provided the platform for four days of forums and events which included a high level meeting with long term partners, British Airways; trade meetings with tour operators and one-to-one trade media interviews with Selling Long Haul, Travel Bulletin and ABTA Magazine to give the destination maximum exposure.

SKTA Chairman, Alphonso O’Garro, commenting on the show said, “As one of the leading events of the travel industry, World Travel Market continues to afford us the platform to showcase the destination to a wide section of tourism professionals, and to cement new and existing partnerships. As we continue to weather the economic storm while also competing in the UK and European markets, it was positive to note the interest from international as well as UK trade visitors.”

World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is a must-attend four-day business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Almost 48,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press, embark on ExCeL – London every November to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM. In its 33rd year, WTM is the event where the travel industry conducts and concludes its deals.

St. Kitts and Nevis is currently served twice-weekly on Saturday and Tuesday from London Gatwick by British Airways, the first scheduled carrier to provide regular airlift to the island. The BA aircraft uses a three class, 280 seat Boeing 777 aircraft holding 40 Club World seats, 24 World Traveller Plus and 216 World Traveller seats.

For more information about St. Kitts, visit the website at www.stkittstourism.kn or follow St. Kitts on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube.