The Club Med/Holiday Inn Bermuda has closed. This article is for those readers still searching for information about its status.
Bermuda’s Holiday Inn opened in 1973, enjoying a great location in St George’s Parish, overlooking St Catherine’s Beach and Tobacco Bay.
The venture was not successful and in 1981 the hotel was purchased by NY-based Loews Hotels and reopened as the Loews Bermuda Beach Hotel.
In 1985 it was sold to Club Med and reopened as the 630-room Club Med – St George’s Cove. 2 years later it was severely damaged by Hurricane Emily and closed for good in 1988.
The hotel then lay derelict for 20 years, despite numerous attempts to resurrect it:
- November 2003 – The St George’s Renaissance Consortium (led by the Quorum Group) is given a 6-month exclusivity deal by the government to develop a plan for the site.
- March 2005 – The St George’s Renaissance Consortium name Four Seasons as operators of a European-style cultural village with 126-room hotel, theatre, and homes.
- January 2006 – Government drops the St George’s Renaissance Consortium as developer.
- February 2006 – Connecticut-based KJA Development Inc is named by government as new developer and announces plans to build a 5-star hotel and 18-hole golf course on the site.
- November 2006 – Government announces that KJA Development Inc was dropped as favoured developer in September 2006.
- April 2007 – Bazarian International named as new developer.
- August 2008 – Club Med is demolished by implosion.
- December 2008 – Bazarian International and Hyatt sign a management agreement. They announce the Park Hyatt Bermuda will be complete by the first quarter of 2012.
I would always see the abandoned hotel when we docked in St. George on a few cruises I went on in the past. I used to wish they would re-open because the location is fabulous and would love to stay in that area for the week. I went on another cruise in September of 2012, docked on the other end of the island but we took a ferry over to St. George and that is when I saw they took down the hotel. It was actually sad to see and it was also sad that the area was deserted. When the cruises ships docked in St. George it was bustling with tourists/locals. Again, hopefully they will build another hotel because you can’t beat the location and I think it will help the economy in that area.
Spring Break ’78 Memories! It was great!
It was a great place to work. I was the first female Chef patisserie. Shame when I went back for a holiday and found the derelict hotel. The island is a great place for a holiday and has not really changed in 30 years. Lovely friendly laid back approach to life. I do hope it never changes.
Hey Patricia, at least when you went back the hotel was still there. I went back recently to look over the site. My moped couldn`t make it up the hill (my fault, I think I exceeded the bikes weight limit) so I had to walk up the hill and everything was gone. I mean like bada bing bada boom like no more building at all, nothing. The golf course is still there but that’s about it. I never had a chance to stay there but wish I did. Hope they develop this into a nice resort once again, but with less steep hills or more powerful mopeds.
I was there is 1986 you know, I learned to break dance at their club. I don`t know what is going on there now you know but it used to be one great resort. I really miss it.