The St Kitts Tourism Authority has a new chief executive officer, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The tourism board has tapped Ellison “Tommy” Thompson to the role, succeeding longtime CEO Racquel Brown, who helped lead the destination to record levels of leisure and cruise tourism in her tenure.  

Thompson had most recently served as deputy director general of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. 

“Mr. Thompson brings more than three decades of Caribbean tourism sales and marketing experience, including a deep knowledge of marketing Bahamas’ outer islands,” said Nick Menon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. “He has proven success increasing leisure travel, expanding key industry relationships, and implementing creative global marketing campaigns. We are thrilled to have his expertise at the helm of the Tourism Authority.”

In the role, Thompson will focus on leisure and cruise tourism, two perennially high-performing areas for the island. 

He will also prioritize romance and the MICE, or meetings and incentive, markets. 

“Tommy Thompson’s experience working with tourism ministries and destination marketing entities make him the premier choice to lead the St. Kitts Tourism Authority,” said St Kitts Tourism Minister Lindsay F.P. Grant. “We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue driving high demand for the destination among air and cruise passengers as part of tourism’s continuous rebound.” 

Thompson takes office on Jan. 10. 

“St. Kitts is an emerging destination with tremendous potential to excite travelers from around the world,” Thompson said. “I am looking forward to developing and implementing creative strategies that will increase St. Kitts’ visibility in our key source markets, put St. Kitts into the consideration set for travelers, and ultimately drive bookings.”