Special Partnership Celebrated on St. Kitts-Nevis Stand
LONDON, UK, November 10th 2011 – Keeping to tradition, British Airways was given a warm welcome on the joint St. Kitts and Nevis booth at the 2011 World Travel Market, in recognition of the special partnership between the airline and St. Kitts since 2009.
The Hon. Richard Skerrit, Minister of Tourism & International Transport, representing the destination of St. Kitts and Nevis, attended a high-profile meeting on Day One with BA representatives including Alison Nicholls and Marc James to discuss the performance of the twice-weekly route and to further strengthen the on-going partnership with the airline.
The success of the St. Kitts and British Airways partnership was celebrated with a photo-shoot and toast to the airline with a special ‘thank you’ extended to Alison Nicholls, who leaves for a new position at the airline. As St. Kitts dedicated Business Development Manager since the start of the British Airways route in January 2009, Nicholls played a key role in introducing the second ‘Tuesday’ flight to the destination, in March 2010. Marc James, who will now be representing the destination, was given a special welcome from the team.
Joining Minister Skerritt at the four day premier travel event and British Airways meeting was Alfonso O’Garro, Chairman of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Claire Rawson, Board Member, and Lisa Elmes-Bosshard, UK Consultant, together with island hotel and tour operator partners.
Day One of World Travel Market also served as a platform for several media interviews at which Minister Skerritt provided an update of tourism and arrivals to the destination and discussed key areas of focus for 2012 including family and heritage programmes. Media interviews also offered an opportunity for Minister Skerritt to present his view of and to continue the debate surrounding the issue of the proposed APD tax increase. Journalists represented leading travel trade publications including Travel Trade Gazette, Travel Weekly, Selling Long Haul and ABTA Magazine as well as media TV, including Travelmole TV, Definitive Caribbean and WTM TV.
Commenting at the start of WTM, Minister Skerritt said, “We warmly thank British Airways for their ongoing support to the destination and for allowing us the opportunity to cement this partnership. We have a very high regard for the team from British Airways and extend a special thank you to Allison Nichols who has been a constant support and friend to St. Kitts. Sadly Allison is moving on within the airline, but we hope she will remain a friend of St. Kitts.”
On the Show itself, Minister Skerritt said, “WTM offers an opportunity to be at the forefront of achievements and trends within the global travel industry as well as to reinforce what differentiates St. Kitts and what we are offering to UK consumers in 2012.”
Continuing his week’s schedule, Minister Skerritt attended further high-profile engagements in his capacity as CTO Chairman, including the annual UNWTO Summit, where he joined fellow Ministers in debating the subject of 'How Tourism Can Prosper In Times Of Uncertainty’, while also being invited to speak about ‘The Role of Government in making Tourism More Sustainable.’
World Travel Market is the largest premier global event for the travel industry. Travel industry professionals from all corners of the globe visit the show which is said to be one of the largest and most colourful travel and tourism exhibitions in the world. At the 33rd WTM, 183 new exhibitors joined national tourist boards, destination management companies, technology companies, ground handlers, airlines, lodge owners and tour operators from all over the world showcase their latest offerings.
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