Denise Dupré, an American business woman, is founder and managing partner of Champagne Hospitality, which owns Le Barthélemy Resort & Spa, located on the Caribbean island of Saint Barts. Dupré credits Hurricane Irma for making residents of the island so attuned to sustainability and environmental consciousness.

“We opened Le Barthélemy in October, 2016, and had a spectacular first year,” said Dupré.  “Eleven months later, on September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma hit, destroying much of the island and our hotel. Irma showed me the significant and real-world impact climate change is having, as all connections to the island were shut, and most of the roads closed due to fallen trees and debris, and much of the hotel was destroyed.

© Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa

“The resort had been hit by a 30-foot wall of water, collapsing even the hurricane shutters. This experience led us to double down on our company-wide efforts to make sustainability and environmental consciousness central to everything we do here. Though many hotels on the island began laying off their staff, I decided to keep every employee who wanted to stay, and we started to rebuild right away. That proved fortuitous as we were one of the first hotels to reopen.”

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Le Barthélemy offers 44 rooms and suites, each with a terrace and several with private pools, two full-service villas, and a seaside infinity pool. The property’s rooftop bar, Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, is known for its creative cocktails.

© Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa

The property’s new chef, Jérémy Czaplicki, offers guests the opportunity to participate in a zero-waste cooking class. Guests can also take part in replanting coral with the nonprofit organization, Coral Restoration St. Barth, or relaxing with the resort’s Complete Wellness Experience using the La Mer program. The French-born Czaplicki is happy to be directing the kitchen at the resort’s signature restaurant Amis St. Barth.

The zero-waste cooking class gives guests the opportunity to visit a nearby market on the island offering fresh fruits and vegetables from the French West Indies. There, guests pick out their favorite ingredients for cooking the zero-waste meal. With help from Chef Czaplicki, guests learn and apply zero-waste tips, such as using vegetable peels to make juices or dressings and meat trimmings for sauces and meatballs.

© Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa

For guests experiencing the Coral Restoration program, they are provided with a snorkel and work with a professional conservationist learning how to replant coral. The session also educates participants on the delicate coral reef species and different marine species inhabiting the reefs, including sea turtles and giant conch.

The Complete Wellness Experience by La Mer is a therapeutic wellness program that includes a signature body massage and facial treatment by La Mer, a skin diagnostic with La Mer products, an energizing body wrap, and La Mer facial massage. Also included is a vegetarian wellness menu and a sunset or sunrise yoga class.

“The people of St. Barts share a profound love for the island they call home,” said Czaplicki, who happens to be the first Michelin-starred chef on the island. “At Amis St. Barth we are dedicated to serving both locals and resort guests authentic cuisine crafted with all the attentive details and appreciation for the environment that surrounds us. I’m not one for creating simple dishes, I definitely committed to showcasing the richness of French cuisine.”

© Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa

The staff at Amis St. Barth provide guests with the perfect wine and champagne offerings. Guests can also treat themselves to a custom-designed Champagne trolley for a selection from Champagne Leclerc Briant. Other new offerings at the resort include the only cheese trolley on the island, bringing a piece of France to St. Barts with this traditional experience.

For summer 2024 bookings, the property welcomes guests with a series of exclusive offers, including a Stay 7, Pay 5 offer, where guests receive two complimentary nights, or a Stay 5, Pay 4 offer.