How a beach house dream became StolenTime’s 60-year success story

It all started in the 1940s with a husband’s promise to his wife, and over time, that promise grew into one of Saint Lucia’s most enduring tourism success stories.

Years before all-inclusive resorts transformed Caribbean tourism, Dennis Barnard bought a piece of beachfront land. His wife, Marguerite Laurie Barnard, had always dreamed of building a beach house there and encouraged him to make it happen. That choice became the starting point for what is now StolenTime by Rendezvous, a family-run resort that has welcomed guests to Saint Lucia for six decades and has helped shape the island’s tourism industry.

On Wednesday evening, the Barnard family, government officials, people from the tourism industry, employees past and present, loyal guests and friends all gathered under the resort’s tall trees to celebrate the anniversary. The night ended with fireworks over the Caribbean Sea, a perfect way to honour a resort that has been part of Saint Lucia’s tourism story since 1966.

The resort first opened as Malabar Beach Hotel in the summer of 1966. In 1981, it became Couples St Lucia, one of the Caribbean’s first fully all-inclusive resorts. By 1991, it was known as Rendezvous. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the property was renamed StolenTime by Rendezvous, with a greater focus on wellness while keeping the personal service that has always set it apart.

For CEO Andrew Barnard, the anniversary meant much more than just celebrating a hotel.

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“Tonight, as I look around, I do not simply see guests gathered to celebrate a resort story,” he told attendees. “I see six decades of friendship, dedication, loyalty, and shared memories. More than anything else, that is what StolenTime truly represents.”

Barnard reflected on his grandfather’s vision, explaining that although the idea began with a family beach house, Dennis Barnard eventually recognised something greater.

“He believed that visitors could experience the genuine warmth of Saint Lucia through authentic hospitality, personal service, and a true sense of belonging.”

He said that even as the resort changed over the years, that philosophy stayed the same.

The CEO traced the resort’s evolution from Malabar Beach Hotel to Couples St. Lucia, later to Rendezvous, and now to StolenTime, describing each chapter as an adaptation to changing times while remaining rooted in the same values.

“As the resort emerged from the shadow of the COVID pandemic, the team had reimagined the resort as a wellness resort and relaunched as StolenTime,” Barnard said.

He noted that while names have changed, the resort’s purpose has not.

“If there’s one thing that these 60 years have taught us, it is that our greatest strength has never been our buildings, our tropical beach, our location, or our breathtaking gardens. It is always and always will be our people.”

Barnard also shared recent recognition that underscores the resort’s continued international appeal, announcing that StolenTime had just been ranked among the Top 24 Best Hotels and Resorts in the Caribbean by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

“It is an amazing achievement to be forging its place next to some of the most iconic hotels and resorts in this region,” he said.

General Manager Yhasmine Hylton said the anniversary was a chance to stop and celebrate something that few resorts ever achieve.

“Sixty years is an extraordinary achievement. Few resorts have the privilege of celebrating such a milestone, and fewer still are family-owned, homegrown, and deeply rooted in Saint Lucia.”

After leading the resort for the past five years, Hylton said its true character extends beyond its picturesque surroundings.

“It is found not only in its beautiful setting, but in the relationships created here, the memories shared, and the genuine warmth extended to every guest.”

She described the many special moments the resort has seen over the past six decades.

“If these gardens could talk… they would tell countless stories. They would speak to honeymoons and anniversaries, proposals and reunions, laughter shared over dinner, quiet walks along the beach at sunset, and friendships that have lasted a lifetime.”

She also said it’s just as important to remember the generations of employees who have spent much of their lives working at the resort.

Among them was former employee Sandra John, who retired last year after an extraordinary 52 years of service.

“These are really years of service,” Hylton remarked, noting that many employees have spent decades becoming part of the memories guests carry home.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Dr Ernest Hilaire praised the Barnard family for preserving one of Saint Lucia’s hidden gems while maintaining a people-centred approach to hospitality.

Recalling his childhood, Hilaire said he frequently walked along the beach bordering the property while travelling home from school but had never entered the resort until recently.

“I was really, really blown away with the beauty of this property and the serenity of this property,” he said. “You’ve done a fantastic job to keep this gem hidden in Saint Lucia.”

The minister said the evening’s speeches reinforced a timeless principle that transcends changing tourism trends.

“No matter what happens in terms of new fads and new trends, there’s an unquestionable principle that defines the quality of a hospitality offering like yours, and that is how you make people feel.”

He also commended the company’s longstanding commitment to its employees, pointing to the remarkable number of staff members who have worked at the resort for decades.

“How does somebody work at one particular place for 52 years?” he asked. “It says something about the appreciation for the experiences they go through when they come to work.”

Hilaire further acknowledged the resort’s contribution to promoting Saint Lucia internationally, noting that travellers he meets overseas frequently recall fond memories of staying at the property, even if they remember it by one of its former names.

“You’ve been one of the finest ambassadors for Saint Lucia,” he said.

Looking ahead, Barnard said the company’s focus remains firmly on the future, with continued investment in wellness, innovation, guest experiences and community partnerships.

“Our responsibility is not only to preserve what has been built over the past 60 years,” he said, “but to continue building upon it so that those who come after us experience the same warmth, care and authenticity that has defined this unique and beautiful place from the very beginning.”

As fireworks lit up the night sky over the Caribbean Sea, the celebration was more than a commemoration of six decades in business. It honoured a family’s dream that began with a beach house and grew into one of Saint Lucia’s best-known hospitality brands. Even as buildings, brands and trends change, true hospitality never goes out of style.

The article How a beach house dream became StolenTime’s 60-year success story is from St. Lucia Times.