The members of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) named Barbadian hotelier Peter Odle, 1st Vice President of CHA, as President-Elect of the organization. The selection took place during CHA`s Annual General Meeting at the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC) 2005 in Miami, Florida, last week. As President-Elect, Odle will spend the next twelve months preparing to assume the presidency of the trade association in June 2006, for a two-year term.

Odle is a successful and respected tourism veteran with more than 25 years of industry experience. Owner of four properties in Barbados, he is recognized 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 honor 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.

A recent example of Peter Odle`s spirit of fellowship was put into evidence following the passing of Hurricane Ivan through Grenada in September 2004. Wasting no time, he sprang to action to help his fellow hoteliers in the devastated country, chartering two planes in order to assist with the evacuation of hotel guests. With the support of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Odle reached out to his local hospitality industry partners to provide lodging for the visitors while arrangements were made with the airlines and tour operators to take them home.

Originally set to pursue a law-oriented career, Peter Odle changed course in 1977 when he built 14 apartments known as Regent Apartments in the Sunset Crest area of Barbados. In the same year, he entered a lease agreement on the Island Inn Hotel and Palm Beach Hotel in Barbados.

Keeping on par with the growing trend of catering businesses, Mr. Odle established Island Caterers in 1978, one of the biggest catering businesses on Barbados, and it is still in existence today. In 1981, Mr. Odle became Managing Director and Director of Operations for all of his businesses.

Between 1993 and 1994, he reconstructed Palm Beach Hotel into the beautiful all-inclusive Mango Bay Resort, Barbados. Completing Mr. Odle`s portfolio of properties is the small 24-room property on Barbados` west coast known as Sunswept, Holetown. He is Chairman of his group of companies.

As an active volunteer in CHA, Peter Odle has been pro-active in his support for all aspects of the hospitality industry. Today, Odle sits as first vice president of CHA, and is chairman of the Membership Committee and the CHIC 2005 Planning Committee.

He is also Deputy Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority and Chairman of the National Tourism Marketing Committee in Barbados.

Aside from his overwhelming success as a dedicated hotelier, by serving in the above-mentioned capacities, he has consistently ensured that governments, organizations and hospitality-related agencies are fully aware of the importance of the resort business and its impact on employment and the economic well-being of individual countries and the Caribbean region as a whole.