St Kitts and its tourism leadership earned top recognition at the 12th annual Caribbean Travel Awards, published by Caribbean Journal as Kelly Fontenelle was named 2026 Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year and the destination claimed 2026 Sustainable Destination of the Year honors.

The Caribbean Journal website stated that “Few destinations have seen a bigger ascent in recent years than St Kitts, which has cultivated a high-impact niche combining ecotourism, romance, adventure and luxury”.  It credits Kelly Fontenelle, CEO of the St Kitts Tourism Authority, for driving that momentum through targeted promotion, strategic travel partnerships and sustained engagement with the global travel trade.

St Kitts’ Sustainable Destination of the Year award reflects that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword according to Caribbean Journal but that “It’s part of the fabric of the place, and it’s a big reason why it’s developing such renown as a haven for sophisticated, wellness-minded travelers.” The article mentioned “farm-to-table dining and organic agriculture to lush rainforests and a solar-powered airport” as some of the things that earned the destination the title.

Launched in 2014, the Caribbean Travel Awards are selected by Caribbean Journal’s editors and are widely regarded as the region’s most meaningful measure of travel excellence, according to publisher Alexander Britell.