St. Kitt's Tourism Authority set the stage for an evening of "Romance" in Mississauga at the Waterside Inn 26SEP at an event specially organized for Tripcentral.ca travel advisors.
Marsha Tamika Henderson, Minister of Tourism for the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, joined by Ellison 'Tommy' Thompson, CEO, and Melnecia Marshall, Deputy CEO from the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, thanked the travel industry in her opening remarks for their support.
Henderson continued, "Romance is authentic St. Kitts, and it should be at the top of your recommendation list. It's the ultimate place to fall in love for the first time or all over again. Here, couples can have the most exhilarating experiences together. It is our playground of forgotten sugar mills, lush landscapes, picture-perfect beaches, and immersive experiences that invite couples to "#venturedeeper" into our history of culture, making every moment memorable.
"This year, St. Kitts was named the Caribbean destination of the year by the Caribbean Journal. I'm so excited to announce that Air Canada recently increased seat capacity to our destination by 66%."
Air Canada's seasonal route begins in early NOV and continues through the end of APR with Friday and Saturday departure options.
Marshall told Open Jaw that the new airlift will increase Canadian visitations to the island. So far, Canada ranks 4th, with the US, Caribbean and UK leading in visitations.
Thompson added, "St Kitts is two destinations in one; couples can get married in St Kitts and honeymoon in Nevis. They need to tour the island, visit the rainforest, and experience the diverse cuisine. Brimstone Hill and Timothy Hill are great spots for creating those Instagram-worthy shots.
"In terms of hotels, there are no all-inclusive in St Kitts; that is an area that is being explored further for the future," says Thompson.
The evening showcased all things Romance in St. Kitts. Alison McGill, a romance influencer and host of the Aisle Seat podcast, who joined forces with the St. Kitts Tourism Authority earlier this year to promote the destination, delivered the keynote talk about the romance industry.
She noted, "There's a wedding boom happening right now, and it's going to go until at least 2025, which means that we're doing a catch-up of all the weddings that didn't happen in COVID. We're having second weddings for those micro wedding people that got married during COVID, and then we've got many new engagements coming along, and everyone wants to travel".
That's good news for the destination wedding industry.
"Couples are looking for unique, authentic destinations and a special place. I can't think of a better place than St. Kitts for a wedding because people haven't travelled together," McGill stated. "If you invite 50 people to your destination wedding, 50 will come. They want to travel. They want to celebrate together."
McGill wrapped her keynote with a fashion show, spotlighting four stylish dress trends for destination weddings this year.
Melnecia Marshall, Deputy CEO, St. Kitts Tourism Authority
The night concluded with a fireside chat that featured McGill, Thompson, and Marshall. Reflecting on the destination's "#venturedeeper" campaign slogan, the trio shared how couples can genuinely engage in travel experiences in St. Kitts, whether through a farm-to-table dinner in the rainforest or embracing the local "kick it like Kittitian" vibe.
More information about Romance travel in St Kitts is available via the destination's new Romance Guide and new website: www.visitstkitts.com.
