Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 24, 2009) - Managers and consultants of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority from St. Kitts, Canada and the US along with representatives from some of the island's various tourism industry stakeholders participated in this year's annual marketing strategy meetings, which took place over two days July 23-24, 2009 at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. 

The meetings were intended to review the destination's existing strategies and tactics for reaching potential visitors, evaluate their effectiveness, identify new opportunities and determine areas for adjustment based on the current marketplace conditions and predictions for 2010.  Various sessions, workshops and discussions highlighted new technologies as well as traditional marketing vehicles and how to best employ them to engage travelers from St. Kitts' consumer base. 

"These sessions were about meeting the needs of the  market," said St. Kitts Tourism Authority CEO Mrs. Rosecita Jeffers. "I think it is crucial that in a changing market place we at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority employ the most effective and innovative opportunities to market the destination."

The participants were welcomed by Alphonso O'Garro, Chairman of the Tourism Authority's Board of Directors. Managers and consultants then each presented their accomplishments for the first half of 2009 and plans for the next six months.  Presentations were also  made over both days by Joseph Buhler and Cees Bosselaar of PhocusWright, a leading travel industry research authority whose services were procured for the meetings, with a special focus on online marketing initiatives.

"This is an excellent example of why Tourism is working," said Senator Ricky Skerritt, who was also present at the meetings. "These review and brainstorming sessions will help us to improve on our effectiveness in achieving our objectives related to growing the tourism sector", Skerritt said. 

Along with locally based managers, also present in the two day tourism marketing retreat were the Tourism Authority's recently appointed Manager of US Operations Ms. Jacinth Henry-Martin, Director for Canada Mrs. Carolyn James, Senior Marketing Officer for Washington D.C. Mr. A. F. Abdullah Skerritt and Tourism Officer Sinclair Chiverton. Also participating was Vice Chairman of the Tourism Authority's Board of Directors, Hugh Mallalieu, as well as Candice Kimmel, President of New York based public relations firm Adams Unlimited and Industry Relations Marketing   Consultant Denise Zimber.

For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit the website at www.stkittstourism.kn or follow St. Kitts on Facebook and/or Twitter.