“My mother did not intend to build a hotel. She wanted to do apartments but was encouraged by a few people to make investments in our tourism industry, which was still developing at the time,” says Sanovnik Destang, the resort’s Executive Director who took the helm in 2008. The timing proved fortuitous. Saint Lucia’s tourism sector now accounts for 65% of GDP and 43% of employment, with visitor arrivals climbing 14.4% in 2024 alone. Bay Gardens operates differently from its competitors. Every general manager in the company’s history has been a woman, and 80% of the management team is female.“With a female managing director and head, I think she set an example for many young Caribbean women,” Destang notes. The resort chain stands as the Caribbean’s largest female-owned and operated hospitality group, a distinction that goes beyond statistics. Former General Manager Berthia Parle became the first woman to lead the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association as president, while Joyce Destang earned Entrepreneur of the Year honors in 2014. BUILDING LUXURY WITH LOCAL HANDS Nine three-bedroom villas are rising on Reduit Beach, each unit designed to showcase unobstructed views of Pigeon Island. The Sapphire Sands project is Bay Gardens’ most ambitious undertaking yet, with 27 keys that can be configured as one, two, or three-bedroom units, all featuring Butler service and private balconies. “We’re bringing new restaurant and dining concepts that haven’t been done at Bay Gardens before, including an Asian Caribbean fusion dining concept that will be accessible to guests on all of our properties,” Destang explains. The development arrives as Saint Lucia prepares to add 1,000 new hotel rooms by 2025, responding to record tourism growth that saw 435,659 stayover visitors in 2024. The resort’s local partnerships cover the entire construction process. “I’m very proud of the fact that we’re able to use all local Caribbean persons from everything from architecture to landscaping,” Destang says.“Blueprint contractors from Saint Lucia, G&G Interiors from Saint Lucia and Trinidad are Caribbean-based but with international experience.” This approach aligns with government incentives that encourage businesses to strengthen connections between tourism and local industries. Beyond Sapphire Sands, Bay Gardens continues reinventing its existing properties. The company has invested millions in renovating Bay Gardens 43 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 BAY GARDENS RESORTS
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