Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Odle
WESTERN BUREAU:
BARBADIAN HOTELIER Peter Odle has been named president of one of the region's most prestigious organisations, the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA).
Mr. Odle, managing director of the 76-room Mango Bay Hotel in Barbados, was officially installed at a black tie gala at the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference 2006 in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday night. He will serve in the position for the next two years.
Earlier in the afternoon, the respected tourism veteran accepted the gavel from the association's first female president, Berthia Parle, of Bay Gardens Inn in St. Lucia. Mrs. Parle will assume the role of chairman of the association and continue to assist its running over the next two years.
"My presidency will be based on consultation and communication with my membership," Mr. Odle told The Sunday Gleaner. "I am going to make sure this association remains viable and, as of July, we will have a task force set up to look at CHA in its entirety."
CHA now has 900 hotels and approximately 13,000 allied members in its portfolio.
Boasting more than 25 years of industry experience, Mr. Odle has made a success of his resort Mango Bay Hotel and three other small properties in Barbados. He is recognised in the Caribbean tourism industry for his role in the development and sustainability of the indigenous small hotel throughout the region.
In 2000, his fellow Caribbean hoteliers bestowed on him the honour of the 'Caribbean Hotelier of the Year' award, in recognition of the time and resources he has volunteered through CHA over the years to help improve and grow the Caribbean tourism product.
An illustrious group of officers joins the Odle team. The group includes Allen Chastenet, St. Lucia, first vice-president; other vice-presidents respectively are Jeremey MacVean, Bahamas; Richard Demoung, United States Virgin Islands; John Lynch, Jamaica and Enrique deMarchena of the Dominican Republic. Jamaica's Jag Mehta remains treasurer and St. Lucia's Berthia Parle is the chairman of the association.
