Billionaires Battle Over a Hotel and Quality of Life on St. Barts – The New York Times

The Dupr companies started the projects as the island was dealing with new concerns about sustainability. A 2016 Wildlife Conservation Society report stated that the islands environment is rapidly degrading because of land-based pollution draining into the sea and destroying marine habitats, urbanization and overfishing. A year later, Hurricane Irma devastated the island, worsening an already dire housing shortage for workers.

That tension may explain some of the animosity toward Ms. Dupr and her husband, Mark Nunnelly (a former managing partner at Bain Capital, former chief executive of Dominos Pizza and an investor in an outsourcing concern, a call center and other ventures). Someone scrawled Get Out Dupr Pig in red on the white construction wall a highly unusual act of vandalism on the mostly crime-free island. One of the English-language island online forums has a chat titled Death to Dominos Pizza in reference to the hotel project.

In one corner you have this billionaire business firm and in the other a bunch of local people saying please dont damage our marine life, said a Youngstown, Ohio, attorney, Eddie Czopur, who has been staying on St. Jean Bay during the winter season for years. It was like a Rocky story, that the locals won.

But Ms. Dupr and Mr. Nunnelly are hardly the only superrich who have been accused of making plans that seem to ignore island scale or Caribbean aesthetic. Islanders have watched as tycoons have increasingly competed to see who can anchor the biggest yacht in the harbor, or build the biggest villa.

Looking ahead. As governments across the world loosen coronavirus restrictions, the travel industry hopes this will be the year that travel comes roaring back. Here is what to expect:

Lodging. During the pandemic, many travelers discovered the privacy offered by rental residences. Hotels hope to competeagain by offeringstylish extended-stay properties, sustainable options, rooftop bars and co-workingspaces.

Rental cars. Travelers can expect higher prices, and older carswith high mileage, since companies still havent been able to expand their fleets. Seeking an alternative? Car-sharing platforms might be a more affordable option.

Cruises. Despite a bumpy start to the year, thanks to Omicrons surge, demand for cruises remains high. Luxury expedition voyages are particularly appealing right now, because they typically sail on smaller ships and steer away from crowded destinations.

Destinations. Cities are officially back: Travelers are eager to dive into the sights, bites and soundsof a metropolis like Parisor New York. For a more relaxing time, some resorts in the U.S. are pioneering an almost all-inclusive model that takes the guesswork out of planning a vacation.

Experiences. Travel options centered around sexual wellness (think couples retreats and beachfront sessions with intimacy coaches) are growing popular. Trips with an educational bent, meanwhile, are increasingly sought after by families with children.

The local government recently restricted the size of new villas to under 150 square meters (a little over 1,600 square feet). But at least 50 previously issued construction permits are still in the pipeline meaning new mega mansions will surely be erected. The once- crystalline waters around the island have turned cloudy as construction-runoff sediment damages reefs and drives off sea animals. One marine biologist who works on the island told me she cried after returning to a diving site once teeming with turtles and sharks and finding it barren.

Ms. Dupr and her husband declined to comment for this article, referring questions to Mr. Stanton, a spokesman for Ms. Dupr and her company, SAS St. Jean Beach Real Estate. He said the company will appeal the ruling against the LEtoile permit to a higher court in France in March, but that adjudication will take at least 15 months. Ms. Dupr still hopes to build a hotel, but will fill in the hole as ordered once the collectivit grants permission, he said.

She has a deep background in hotel management, and Denise and the family have had a special affection for the island for more than 20 years, Mr. Stanton said. She and the St. Barts team she worked with feel they were very attentive to bringing a peaceful, beautiful thing to this beach, and will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the community about the project.

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Billionaires Battle Over a Hotel and Quality of Life on St. Barts - The New York Times