St Barth is not a palace
- Thread starter andynap
- Start date
crescentbeach
SBH Insider
This is quite a plea.
I've often been told by people who live and work on St. Bart's that..they work for the lifestyle, that there's not a lot of money been saved up because the cost of living there, and especially raising a family, is so very expensive. Yes I'm sure there are many high paying jobs but they would be outnumbered, I have to think, by jobs that just pay enough to live the life. There may not be an option but long closures will surely hurt.
I've often been told by people who live and work on St. Bart's that..they work for the lifestyle, that there's not a lot of money been saved up because the cost of living there, and especially raising a family, is so very expensive. Yes I'm sure there are many high paying jobs but they would be outnumbered, I have to think, by jobs that just pay enough to live the life. There may not be an option but long closures will surely hurt.
"Everything won't be perfect . . . warmth of the reception, the quality of service and the kindness of the members of our community will make the season 2017/18 one of the most successful our guests have ever experienced."
Totally agree . . . the island is a lot about beauty, but I've long found its "long suit" to be the warmth, kindness, & courtesy of residents.
Totally agree . . . the island is a lot about beauty, but I've long found its "long suit" to be the warmth, kindness, & courtesy of residents.
We are hoping to be back in 2018. We know that the "perfection" of SBH lies inward. The beauty of the people, those that choose to live on this incredible island and interact with all of us with love in spite of what the salaries are, are why we come. From the Hideaway to Santa Fe to L'Esprit and to all of the other places we go, we have made friends. We, of course, adore the food, the shopping, the beautiful beaches, (and Marché U!!), but we come for the friendship and atmosphere. No hurricane can kill that off. Recovery will take time but that does not mean all of the other reasons we come to SBH will be lost. I have absolute faith that we will have SBH "back" because the people we meet there will find a way to make it work. Nobody is looking for perfection; just by being Saint Barth, the magic, the dreams, the memories are already there. We are wishing the best to all on the island. We will be back and we will create new memories with you. Love from Davesmom and Davesdad
Izzy
Senior Insider
To put "palace" in the context of the French Ministry of Tourism:
Established by the French Minister of Tourism in November 2010, the Distinction Palace is designed to award official recognition to the finest 5-star hotels. The Distinction Palace is designed to award official recognition to the finest 5-star hotels. They must have exceptional qualities that embody French standards of excellence and contribute to enhancing the image of France throughout the world. It is also designed to increase the profile of these establishments.
The Ministry of Tourism awards the "Palace" distinction after the completion of a two phase process:
- an initial investigation phase conducted by ATOUT FRANCE based on objective eligibility criteria. These mandatory criteria include having the following available to guests: fitness area, spa, multilingual team, concierge service and more.
- an evaluation phase is conducted by an experienced panel, based on a set of assessment criteria including: location, appearance, history of the site, character of the establishment, involvement of staff in seeking excellence, gourmet restaurants, respectful environmental policy, and more.
(from http://uk.france.fr/en/about-france/palace-status)
In the most recent listings, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France is one of 24 hotels that have received this distinction.
Readers can place this in their own context of how tourism and its marketing have evolved for St Barth since they first found the island.
Established by the French Minister of Tourism in November 2010, the Distinction Palace is designed to award official recognition to the finest 5-star hotels. The Distinction Palace is designed to award official recognition to the finest 5-star hotels. They must have exceptional qualities that embody French standards of excellence and contribute to enhancing the image of France throughout the world. It is also designed to increase the profile of these establishments.
The Ministry of Tourism awards the "Palace" distinction after the completion of a two phase process:
- an initial investigation phase conducted by ATOUT FRANCE based on objective eligibility criteria. These mandatory criteria include having the following available to guests: fitness area, spa, multilingual team, concierge service and more.
- an evaluation phase is conducted by an experienced panel, based on a set of assessment criteria including: location, appearance, history of the site, character of the establishment, involvement of staff in seeking excellence, gourmet restaurants, respectful environmental policy, and more.
(from http://uk.france.fr/en/about-france/palace-status)
In the most recent listings, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France is one of 24 hotels that have received this distinction.
Readers can place this in their own context of how tourism and its marketing have evolved for St Barth since they first found the island.
JDM
New Member
If there is a way to get there and a place to stay next summer, my family and I will be there. I really don't care what it looks like, if there's construction, if the beaches are perfect, etc. We've been coming since 1994, and Irma will not change that. We love the people who live and work there, and we will support them.
GMP62
Senior Insider
Well said, Davesmom...we couldn't agree more. Good to see you back on the Forum!
Gayle & Gary
stbartshopper
Senior Insider
We are now getting reports that the people who live on the island and work at the hotels, restaurants, shops etc. have had many of their homes destroyed. Odile at Gumbs Car rental is fine but she has had terrible damage. Other local families have stated that they have lost everything. My guess is the Villas in general have been built to hurricane proof standards while many of the 'local' homes are old, original to the island and not built as solid as newer buildings. One family said the only room that survived in their home was the office because it had a concrete roof. In another home, the family spent many hours in their cistern with their doggy. And even though they lost their home, they survived unharmed physically. The island will return to its wonderful self and we must support the people and not let concern about broken trees and unsightly damage affect our love for it. 2017-2018 will be wonderful and future years will be even better. However the threat of hurricanes will never go away.
julianne
Senior Insider
I am not surprised to see these words from Bruno. His heart is with the island. We stayed for many years at his beautiful villa in Pt. Milou. St Barth's reputation as a paradise is a double-edged sword. People can be dismissive of the island's real needs because it is a "playground" for the rich. And, by announcing that they are closing for a year or more, hotels are reinforcing that narrative. Giving the impression it isn't a big deal for their employees to be out of work for that long
The hardworking people of St. Barth would be terribly hurt economically if so many establishments take that stance. I hope that, wherever possible, places open even if everything is not "perfect"! As long as the infrastructure is safe and can provide a reasonable level of comfort, tourism can still be encouraged. Visitors can make their own decisions as to the level of service and accommodation they require. For us, the warmth and hospitality we have received outweigh other considerations. We look forward to being there next February.
The hardworking people of St. Barth would be terribly hurt economically if so many establishments take that stance. I hope that, wherever possible, places open even if everything is not "perfect"! As long as the infrastructure is safe and can provide a reasonable level of comfort, tourism can still be encouraged. Visitors can make their own decisions as to the level of service and accommodation they require. For us, the warmth and hospitality we have received outweigh other considerations. We look forward to being there next February.
dadto6
Senior Insider
So well stated Dave's Mom and others. We agree with so many that have written about their heartfelt feelings regarding the spirit of St. Barths. We will be there next month, rich is subjective, playground is subjective, I love St. Barths for the pure essence of what makes it so great, its people and others on this forum that love each other.
