The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) recently welcomed its U.S. Travel Advisory Board to Antigua for a strategic on-island retreat, bringing together leading travel advisors from key source markets for immersive destination experiences, high-level discussions, and relationship building with local partners.
Led by Dean Fenton, U.S. Director for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, the visit marked the final on-island meeting for the current Advisory Board ahead of the appointment of a new committee in March and is part of ABTA’s ongoing efforts to enhance destination appeal, strengthen trade relationships, and drive increased bookings.
Designed as a combination of strategic planning and experiential engagement, the retreat allowed board members to deepen their firsthand knowledge of the destination through site inspections at premier resorts, curated marine and culinary experiences, and collaborative meetings with ABTA leadership.
Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, The Honourable Charles Fernandez met with the group during their visit and showed appreciation for their support of Antigua and Barbuda.
“We are pleased to welcome our US travel advisors back to Antigua and Barbuda and to thank them for their continued advocacy of the destination. Their presence here reinforces the confidence we have in our tourism product and the message that Antigua and Barbuda remains fully open and welcoming to travellers. As valued partners in driving growth their feedback continues to play an important role in our US marketing efforts.”
“The value of hosting our Advisory Board on-island is immeasurable,” said Dean Fenton, U.S. Director for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “By experiencing Antigua and Barbuda firsthand, our advisors are better equipped to authentically sell the destination, identify new opportunities, and strengthen the partnerships that ultimately lead to increased visitation and long-term growth.”
Throughout the retreat, Advisory Board members participated in a thoughtfully curated program designed to showcase Antigua and Barbuda’s diverse hospitality, marine, and culinary offerings. The group was hosted at Blue Waters Resort & Spa and Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, where they conducted resort site inspections and held strategic meetings. Culinary experiences included dining at The Palm and The Cove at Blue Waters, as well as White Sands Restaurant at Hodges Bay. The itinerary also featured a sailing experience aboard the Excellence Catamaran, with time to explore and shop in St. John’s, visits to Prickly Pear Island, and beachfront dining at The Hut. The program concluded with a dinner at Mamma Mia, highlighting the island’s vibrant dining scene and variety of guest experiences.
As part of the visit, the group also participated in a brief community outreach initiative, including a beach clean-up and a donation of supplies to the Denis Bowers Rehabilitation Centre, reflecting ABTA’s continued commitment to responsible tourism and community engagement.
The tourism minister applauded the group on this initiative and thanked them for participating in the beach clean-up at Jabberwock Beach.
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Advisory Board is comprised of senior travel advisors representing a range of specialties, including luxury travel, destination weddings, honeymoons, and experiential travel. Current board members include:
- Paula McCarty, Travel Smart with Paula
- Natalie Fagglanelli, Bayside Travel
- Kimberly Jacoby, Romantics Travel
- Donna Blasi, Blissful Honeymoons and Destination Weddings
- Mark Hennigan, Destination Weddings and Honeymoon Specialist
- Kathy Brancifort, First Class Travel
- Viviane Gringer, Travel Edge
- Roberta Long-Kelleher, Protravel International
- Daren Southgate, Tzell Long Island
Insights and recommendations from the retreat will help inform ABTA’s trade engagement and marketing initiatives as the destination looks ahead to continued growth in 2026 and beyond.
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only continuously working Georgian era dockyard in the world, and a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the Antigua Racing Cup, Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month, the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival and Antigua and Barbuda Art Week. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 11-mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.
Find information on Antigua and Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com or follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/antiguabarbuda -Facebook: www.facebook.com/antiguabarbud and Instagram: www.instagram.com/AntiguaandBarbuda .
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