A standout hospitality worker from Antigua has cemented her place among the world’s elite luxury service providers, after being honored with a 2026 Leading Quality Assurance (LQA) Sirius Award, one of the industry’s most prestigious recognitions for frontline hospitality excellence.
Officials from Carlisle Bay, the five-star Antiguan resort where Kalin Fontaine has built her career, confirmed the achievement in an official statement. Fontaine was selected as one of just 100 global honorees for the 2026 LQA Sirius Awards, an accolade that draws thousands of nominations from luxury hospitality properties across the globe. Out of this select group of 100, Fontaine climbed to a top 10 ranking, a historic milestone for Caribbean hospitality.
Notably, Fontaine is the only professional from the entire Caribbean region to earn a spot on this year’s list of awardees, all of whom are drawn from properties affiliated with Leading Hotels of the World. This distinction highlights not just Fontaine’s individual talent, but also the growing reputation of Caribbean luxury hospitality on the global stage.
The LQA Sirius Awards were created to shine a spotlight on individual team members who go above and beyond to deliver transformative luxury guest experiences. Unlike industry awards that recognize properties or brands, this honor centers frontline workers, celebrating those who win guests over through sincere warmth, proactive intuitive service, and one-of-a-kind stays that leave lasting impressions.
Fontaine first joined the Carlisle Bay resort team back in 2018, and over nearly a decade has built a reputation for her unwavering dedication to guests, meticulous attention to every detail of a visitor’s stay, and a natural ability to build genuine connections with people from all over the world. In their statement, resort leadership described Fontaine as a true ambassador for both Carlisle Bay and the broader Caribbean hospitality sector, noting that her work embodies the warm, welcoming culture the region is known for.
Leadership at Carlisle Bay emphasized that Fontaine’s award is far more than an individual win: it is a reflection of the consistent culture of excellence that the entire resort team cultivates every day. Calling the well-earned honor a testament to the property’s commitment to elevating luxury service standards, the resort extended its formal congratulations to Fontaine for her groundbreaking achievement.