In a landmark moment for Caribbean travel and hospitality, Antigua and Barbuda’s leading tourism industry body has officially celebrated a historic win for one of the nation’s rising hospitality stars. The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) has extended formal congratulations to Kalin Fontaine, the skilled Restaurant Manager at luxury resort Carlisle Bay Antigua, for her exceptional performance at the first-ever LQA Sirius Awards 2026 held in Lisbon, Portugal.
Fontaine made history as the only hospitality professional from the entire Caribbean region to earn a spot among the 100 top-ranked star employees worldwide, beating out more than 10,000 nominated candidates from across the globe for the prestigious recognition. This selection marks a rare and high-profile win for a Caribbean hospitality worker, shining a global spotlight on the quality of service the region is known for.
In a statement released following the awards announcement, ABHTA emphasized that Fontaine’s standout achievement is far more than a personal win—it is a powerful reflection of the core values that have long defined Caribbean hospitality: authentic care for guests, unwavering dedication to service excellence, and the ability to create one-of-a-kind, memorable visitor experiences that keep travelers returning to the region year after year.
The association also took the opportunity to applaud the entire team at Carlisle Bay Antigua, noting that Fontaine’s success would not have been possible without the supportive, service-focused culture cultivated at the resort. ABHTA framed the global top 100 ranking as a critical milestone for Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism and hospitality sector, one that reinforces the nation’s reputation as a world-class luxury travel destination and paves the way for more local hospitality professionals to gain international recognition in the years ahead.