A historic milestone for Caribbean hospitality has put Antigua and Barbuda on the global luxury tourism map, after one of the nation’s rising industry stars earned a spot among the world’s top 10 hospitality professionals at the 2026 Leading Quality Assurance (LQA) Sirius Awards.
Kalin Fontaine, who currently serves as Restaurant Manager at the acclaimed Carlisle Bay resort on Antigua, beat out more than 10,000 competing hospitality professionals from across the globe to claim her elite ranking at the awards ceremony, the inaugural edition of the event, which was hosted this year in Lisbon, Portugal. Beyond her top 10 placement, Fontaine also made history as the only hospitality worker from the entire Caribbean region to secure a spot among the awards’ top 100 honourees.
The achievement was publicly celebrated by Hon. Michael Freeland, Jamaica’s Minister of State in the Ministries of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, who recognized Fontaine during the 2026 FAB Fest. During the celebration, Freeland presented a national award to Fontaine, highlighting how her work has not only earned personal acclaim but lifted the international profile of Antigua and Barbuda’s world-class luxury tourism sector.
“Through consistent professionalism, unwavering commitment to excellence, and relentless dedication to delivering unparalleled hospitality experiences, Kalin Fontaine has made the entire nation of Antigua and Barbuda proud,” Freeland said in his remarks at the event. “Her win is far more than a personal career milestone. It is a transformative achievement for Antigua and Barbuda, and for the Caribbean hospitality community as a whole.”
Freeland went on to note that Fontaine’s global recognition underscores the exceptional quality of homegrown talent that drives Antigua and Barbuda’s core tourism and hospitality industry. Beyond showcasing existing talent, he added, her story will serve as a powerful source of inspiration for young people across the country pursuing careers in the tourism space.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda has officially joined the global and regional tourism community in extending formal congratulations to Fontaine, hailing her well-earned international accolade as a landmark moment for the nation’s tourism brand.