Destination deepens advisor relationships as Virtuoso recognition adds momentum to strong Las Vegas showing

LAS VEGAS (Aug. 20, 2026) — The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) strengthened relationships with leading luxury travel advisors and industry partners during Virtuoso Travel Week 2026, reinforcing the destination’s position in the global luxury travel marketplace during a week that also delivered significant international recognition for Anguilla.

Held in Las Vegas from Aug. 8–14, Virtuoso Travel Week brought together leading luxury travel professionals and preferred partners from around the world for high-level networking, business development and destination engagement.

Representing Anguilla were Chantelle Richardson, deputy director of tourism; Merla Smith Halley, board director of ATB; and Vivian Chambers, Anguilla’s U.S. sales representative.

Chantelle Richardson, Anguilla’s deputy director of tourism (right) and Merla Smith Halley, board director of the Anguilla Tourist Board (left), with U.S.-based travel advisors Falon Sweeney and Courtney Carter during Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 in Las Vegas.

Throughout the week, the delegation met with influential travel advisors and industry partners, sharing the latest developments from Anguilla, strengthening key relationships while creating new opportunities to drive awareness and visitation among high-value travelers.

Adding further momentum to Anguilla’s presence, Virtuoso announced during the week that Anguilla had been ranked the No. 1 Caribbean destination and No. 3 worldwide for festive (holiday season) travel based on the network’s 2026 booking data. West End, Anguilla also ranked No. 8 among Virtuoso’s top individual festive destinations worldwide.

The recognition provided a powerful backdrop for ATB’s marketplace engagements, affirming strong demand for Anguilla while giving the delegation a compelling reason to engage advisors around the destination’s distinctive luxury offering.

Anguilla takes center stage at Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 in Las Vegas, showcasing the destination’s distinctive “Taste. Feel. Love.” brand experience.

“Virtuoso Travel Week gives Anguilla a priceless opportunity to connect directly with the advisors and partners who influence luxury travel decisions around the world,” said Richardson. “The recognition announced during the week was an especially proud moment for us and reinforced what we were hearing in our conversations — that Anguilla keeps resonating strongly with discerning travelers looking for exceptional experiences, personalized service and authentic Caribbean hospitality.”

An important highlight of Anguilla’s participation was its presence in the Virtuoso Preferred Partner Lounge which provided a dedicated platform for direct engagement with advisors and industry partners. 

The ATB delegation showcased the breadth of Anguilla’s tourism offering, including its acclaimed resorts and villas, award-winning beaches, renowned culinary scene, wellness experiences and highly customized approach to hospitality.

Four properties from Anguilla’s Virtuoso portfolio were present: Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club; Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla; Malliouhana Resort Anguilla; and Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts. 

Given that Anguilla has six properties within the Virtuoso network (the remaining two being Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla and Quintessence Hotel, Relais & Châteaux), the destination’s representation at Virtuoso Travel Week delivers significant value in showcasing the strength and diversity of Anguilla’s luxury tourism product while further reinforcing its positioning in the global luxury travel market.

ATB also hosted an intimate dinner for key travel partners, providing an occasion to deepen relationships and share the Anguilla story in a personal setting reflective of the kindness and hospitality for which the island is well known.

Richardson said these relationships are critical to converting destination awareness into meaningful business for Anguilla.

“Luxury travel is highly relationship-driven, and travel advisors remain some of our most important ambassadors in the marketplace,” she said. “Our objective is not simply to ensure they know Anguilla, but that they understand the depth of the destination, what is new and evolving, and why Anguilla continues to deliver an experience that inspires repeat visitation and strong word-of-mouth advocacy.”

Through purposeful engagements such as Virtuoso Travel Week, the Anguilla Tourist Board continues to strengthen international partnerships, expand destination visibility, and convert marketplace interest into visitation and economic opportunity for Anguilla and its tourism industry stakeholders.

Chantelle Richardson, deputy director of tourism for the Anguilla Tourist Board, meets Frank Pierce, director of sales & marketing of Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts, during Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 in Las Vegas.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Aug. 23, 2026) — For St. Kitts, the value of cruise tourism is increasingly measured by more than the number of passengers stepping ashore at Port Zante.
The sector channels business to taxi operators, tour companies, vendors, artisans, restaurants and other enterprises across the island — an impact tourism minister Marsha Henderson says must ultimately be judged by the opportunities it creates for people and communities.

“Tourism does not stop at the cruise terminal. It reaches into our communities and into the homes of our people,” Henderson said. “Ultimately, our success must be measured by the opportunities we create and the lives we enrich.”

That economic footprint has taken on added weight as St. Kitts reports 1,002,282 cruise passengers as of Aug. 20, surpassing the 1 million mark for the first time since the global cruise industry shut down in 2020.

The island is no stranger to seven-figure cruise seasons but for Henderson, the latest milestone carries a different meaning. “This is not the first time St. Kitts has welcomed one million cruise passengers, but what makes this moment significant is what that number represents,” she said. “It represents renewed confidence in our destination, the strength of the partnerships we have rebuilt, and the resilience of our tourism industry and our people.”

Cruise tourism’s reach spans transportation, hospitality, retail, agriculture and entertainment, supporting livelihoods well beyond the port.

Officials are now focused on extracting greater value from that volume. Among the most significant developments is the planned launch of P&O Cruises homeport operations in November 2027, which will allow passengers to begin and end selected cruises in Basseterre.

St. Kitts is also working to deepen the link between cruise passengers and local culture. The tourism ministry says a new partnership with Celebrity Cruises will introduce a “Sugarmas” experience in January 2027, supported by onboard cultural workshops ahead of the ship’s arrival. The initiative is designed to give passengers an introduction to Kittitian culture before they reach the island and create a stronger connection between the onboard experience and the destination ashore.

Minister Henderson has described another key tourism asset as St. Kitts’ “stored currency” — the goodwill, trust and relationships built with visitors and industry partners through strong partnerships, fulfilled commitments and positive experiences. The concept reflects a broader shift: measuring success not only by rising arrival numbers but by the value those visitors generate and the relationships that support repeat business and sustained demand.

The destination is hosting the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) Caribbean Showcase this week, giving travel professionals an opportunity to experience St. Kitts firsthand and build the destination knowledge that can translate into future bookings.