Berthia Monica Parle

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BerthiaMonica Parle MBE is a Saint Lucian hotelier, restaurateur, senator and diplomat.

Contents

Biography

Parle began her career in the hospitality sector as a trainee at the Steigenberger Cariblue Hotel in Saint Lucia. [1] She then trained at hotels in Bermuda and Germany. [1] In 1985, Parle was among investors for the restaurant Capone's, then Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour and the Patio Restaurant in Saint Lucia. [1]

Parle was president of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, [2] during a period when the rise of all-inclusive resorts threatened small hotels and local entrepreneurs. [3] Parle also encouraged Caribbean governments to work together to ensure financial benefits from the cruise sector and sustainable tourism in the region. [4] [5] [6]

In 2002, Parle was elected as the first Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA). [2] In 2003, Parle was awarded the Golden Conch as Caribbean Hotelier of the Year at the annual Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference [1] [7] and was listed as "one of the most powerful women in tourism" by Travel Agent magazine. [8] In the 2004 Birthday Honours for the Commonwealth realms, Parle was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the tourism industry.[ citation needed ]

Parle served as the first female president of the CHA from 2004 to 2006. [9] [10] [11] In 2007, Parle announced the opening of Bay Gardens Beach Resort in Saint Lucia. [12]

In 2012, Parle was appointed by the Governor-General of Saint Lucia, Pearlette Louisy, as an independent senator in the Senate of Saint Lucia, the upper house of the Parliament of Saint Lucia. [13] [14] Parle was elected by the senators to act as deputy president of the Senate from 2012 to 2016. [15] While in post as senator, Parle challenged local farmers to diversify their production to decrease the importing of produce by the Saint Lucian hospitality sector. [16] Parle is "often prominently featured in the press as a kind of "voice" during St. Lucian elections." [17]

Parle served as Honorary Consul to Finland for a decade and was appointed to the Order of the Lion of Finland and Order of the White Rose of Finland in honour of her service. [18]

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "St. Lucia's Berthia Parle voted CHA President Elect and Recognized as the 2003 Caribbean Hotelier of the Year". Daily Hotel Industry News. 30 June 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 Felix, Cletus (17 June 2002). "Berthia Parle is CHA's First Vice President". Saint Lucia Government Information Service. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Pattullo, Polly (2005). Last Resorts: The Cost of Tourism in the Caribbean. NYU Press. pp. 96–97. ISBN   978-1-58367-117-7.
  4. ↑ Cruise Industry News. Nissen-Lie Consult, Incorporated. 2002.
  5. ↑ "Regional Cruise Consensus Critical". Breaking Travel News. 5 September 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Caribbean Cruise Sector Needs Assessment". Breaking Travel News. 2 September 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "More Praise and International Honour for Parle". Breaking Travel News. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Berthia Parle Voted President Elect of CHA". Breaking Travel News. 20 June 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "New Caribbean Hotel Association President, Mrs. Berthia Parle, MBE, Draws Attention from Heads of Government on the Region's Major Economic Engine - Tourism". Hospitality Net. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Berthia Parle lauded as Caribbean Tourism Champion". South Florida Caribbean News. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Kilbey, Ben (11 February 2005). "Interview Berthia Parle: 'This is the Caribbean's day'". Breaking Travel News. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Girl Power reigns supreme at Bay Gardens Resorts in St Lucia". Scubaverse. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  13. ↑ Anatole, Elijah (9 January 2012). "Parliament gets new and old faces!". THE STAR - St Lucia. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  14. ↑ ParlAmericas (7 March 2016). Berthia Monica Parle, Senator (Saint Lucia) . Retrieved 25 October 2025– via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Saint Lucia Parliament". guide2womenleaders.com. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Senator challenges local farmers to increase production, diversify". Saint Lucia - Ministry of Public Service. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  17. ↑ Colón, Christina; Flippin, Alexis Lipsitz; Prince, Danforth; Porter, Darwin (2 September 2008). Frommer's Caribbean 2009. Wiley. p. 580. ISBN   978-0-470-28970-9.
  18. 1 2 3 "Berthia Parle recognized by Finland for outstanding service!". SLHTA. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
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