Premier and Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr Ewart Brown announced a pretty impressive set of tourism statistics for the first quarter of 2007. Speaking at the Fairmont Southampton yesterday he revealed that total arrivals were up 23 percent to 45,825 compared to the same period last year. Hotel occupancy rates also showed a healthy increase, rising by 21 percent.
A luxury low-rise hotel is to be built in St George’s. The news was announced at a press conference on Tuesday by Premier Ewart Brown. Bazarian International, an international investment banking firm based in Washington, have been award the contract to develop the scheme. It will be situated on the site of the old Club Med resort which has lain derelict for more than 20 years.
The resort will comprise around 150 one to three-bedroom villas, each no more than three storeys high, and is expected to be complete within the next 3 years. The operators of the hotel have yet to be named.
Premier Ewart Brown has revealed a pretty impressive set of tourism statistics for 2006. Total visitor arrivals were 641,717, up 23.2% on the figure for 2005. 298,973 visitors arrived by air (up 10.9%), 336,299 by cruise ship (up 36.0%) and 6,445 by yacht. Hotel occupancy rates rose to 63.8%, compared to 56.9% in 2005.
Dubai’s Jumeirah Group has been chosen by developers Southlands Limited to operate a luxury 5-star hotel in Bermuda’s Warwick Parish. Plans for the 5-storey resort involve rescinding a Section 34 Agreement, created under the 1974 Planning Act to protect areas of Bermuda from development.
The fragile nature of a Bermuda work permit was clearly illustrated this week after a top chef was booted off the island. Australian Anthony Reynolds, Executive Chef at the Elbow Beach Hotel, made a joke last week about putting arsenic in the meal of Premier Ewart Brown while the leader was dining at the hotel. A complaint was made by a member of staff to the Department of Immigration and shortly after the chef was forced to tender his resignation.
Immigration officials arrived at Mr Reynolds’ apartment on Wednesday and escorted him to the airport. Immigration Minister Derrick Burgess described the incident as ‘tantamount to threatening an act of terrorism, a criminal act of a most heinous nature.’ He went on to say, ‘Such behaviour will not be tolerated by this Government administration, least of all from a guest worker in this country and particularly from someone who, as purportedly responsible as an Executive Chef, was in a position to make good such a threat. No modern democracy post 9/11 would or should, take such threats lightly or in jest.’
Debate on the issue has split the island in two. Most expatriates and many white Bermudians are viewing it as a gross overreaction to an inappropriate joke and an example of Government expatriate bashing. Many within the black community have taken the stance that any threat to the Premier’s life, even if in jest, should be taken seriously.
Comedian Jimmy Keys is returning to Bermuda for one night only. The comedian/musician spent 13 years on the island before moving to the US in 1990. The show will be held at the Fairmont Southampton on New Year’s Eve. Tickets cost $199 and include cocktails and dinner.
Plans for a Ritz Carlton Hotel in Hamilton have moved a step closer to reality after the scheme was granted a special development order by the local council. If the plans go ahead, the hotel will be built on the site of the Par-la-Ville car park and offer 150 guest rooms and 60 residential apartments.
Former guests of the Wyndham Bermuda may find themselves in familiar surroundings next time they visit the island, despite the hotel closing at the end of October. The contents of entire rooms went on sale yesterday and the Royal Gazette reports that many of those buying were other hotels.
A ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces including hotels, bars and restaurants came into effect in Bermuda today. Smokers can still light up on terraces and patios.
The Wyndham Bermuda Resort and Spa will close at the end of October and will then be torn down to make way for a new 5-star development, expected to open in 2009.