BARBADIAN HOTELIER PETER ODLE has been elected president of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA).

His election took place during the business meetings of the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference, now taking place at Hyatt Resort here in Miami, United States.

Odle, who has more than 25 years of tourism industry experience and owns four properties in Barbados, is recognised in the Caribbean tourism industry for his role in the development and sustainability of the indigenous small hotel throughout the region. He takes over from St Lucian hotelier Berthia Parle, who was the first woman to head the 44-year-old CHA.

In 2000, Odle was honoured by fellow Caribbean hoteliers with the coveted 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.

Other association representatives elected to serve on the CHA's board for the next two years were Allen Chastenet, first vice-president, a member of the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association; second vice-president Jeremy MacVean, Bahamas; third vice-president Richard Doumeng, United States Virgin Islands; John Lynch, fourth vice-president, Jamaica; fifth vice-president Enrique de Marchena of the Dominican Republic; and treasurer Jag Mehta, of Jamaica.