The Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) staged a week-long series of events during the 5th annual Saint Lucia Showcase.

Attended by over 150 key UK travel trade contacts, the week comprised a number of events hosted by Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Tourism, Hon. Dominic Fedee.

These included a stand-out media evening event at Hotel Chocolat, featuring cocktails and chocolate from Saint Lucia and attended by publications such as Daily Telegraph, TTG and The Sunday Mirror; a Managing Director’s Dinner, attended by ten of the leading tour operators including Caribtours, British Airways and Virgin Holidays; and a MICE dinner at London’s Groucho Club.

The Saint Lucia Tourist Board also hosted a two-day Tour Operator’s Convention attended by 65 European tour operators and 21 hotels and afternoon forum, which included key note speeches from Travel Weekly’s News Editor, Lee Hayhurst, and one of Mintel’s top travel analysts, Fergal McGivney. The week culminated with the spectacular annual highlight, the Saint Lucia Gala Awards 2016.

This year’s event was held at the Hilton London Syon Park Hotel, a 5-star modern hotel set in the historic 200-acre Syon Park Estate, and was hosted by eminent BBC broadcaster and journalist Brenda Emmanus, along with Kiss FM presenter and DJ, A. J. King.

Special entertainment included a Saint Lucian Street Party held in the Syon Park Great Conservatory, complete with carnival dancers and quadrille dancers in traditional madras attire.

Speaking at his first Showcase since taking office, the Minister with responsibility for Tourism thanked the UK’s tour operators for their continued support of Saint Lucia and their passion and commitment to selling travel to the island.

Louis Lewis, SLTB Director of Tourism said: “The Saint Lucia Showcase has gone from strength to strength and has become a permanent fixture in the UK travel trade calendar, and 2016 has been the best yet. The extraordinarily high quality of meetings and networking is commented upon each year and demonstrates the love affair the UK has with our beautiful island. With an additional 800 hotel rooms opening next year and a new direct flight to the island, UK travellers will have more reason than ever to visit Saint Lucia over the coming year.”

Atlyn Forde, SLTB Director of Marketing in the UK and Europe, said the event affords the SLTB the opportunity to thank its partners.

"We were thrilled to welcome all our hotel partners, tour operators and of course the Minister of Tourism and his delegation to the 5th Annual Saint Lucia Showcase this year. The event really gives us the opportunity to extend our thanks to each and every person who continues to sell travel to Saint Lucia from this core market and to support our beautiful island. With many more exciting developments planned for the next 12 months, we are already looking forward to what next year’s event will bring.”

2017 Showcase will take place on Sep. 14 - 15.

For information on Saint Luciacontact Jennifer Byles or Kelly Kerruish at 020.3757.6800; or email sltb@publicasity.co.uk

Following is the full list of winners:

Best Producing Tour Operator To Saint Lucia 2015

Virgin Holidays

Product Manager Star Award 2015

Tony Plummer – Tropical Sky

Tour Operator with the best representation of Saint Lucia in Social Media 2015

The Holiday Place

Tour Operator with the best Joint Marketing featuring Saint Lucia 2015

Destinology

Luxury Tour Operator With The Largest Growth To Saint Lucia 2015

Caribtours

Best Producing Tour Operator for Weddings and Honeymoons to Saint Lucia 2015

Tropical Sky

Best Specialist Tour Operator to Saint Lucia 2015

Hotels of the Caribbean (Newmont Travel)

Best Online Only Tour Operator Featuring Saint Lucia 2015

Best@Travel

Most Supportive Airline to Saint Lucia 2015

British Airways

Saint Lucia Travel Writer of the Year 2015

Jane Knight – The Times

Saint Lucia Specialist of the Year 2015

Julia Nuttall-Worsley – Tropic Breeze