Earlier today, Premier David Burt, Public Works Minister, Lt. Col. the Hon. David A. Burch, JP, MP and Tourism and Transport Minister Zane DeSilva hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Bermudiana Beach Resort in Warwick. The visitor accommodations are now officially open.
Good afternoon.
It was soon after the 2017 General Election - August 14th, 2017 to be exact - that I held my
first meeting on this proposal and on March 28th, 2018 that I first publically announced the
partnership to convert the Grand Atlantic site into a new mid-market boutique hotel to be
renamed The Bermudiana Beach Resort. So it’s been a long journey - but certainly well
worth it as the negotiations with the world renowned Hilton brand has borne fruit.
The condominium hotel development will provide the best value for money and is most
closely aligned with this Government’s goals of increasing tourist accommodations. The
partnership between the Bermuda Housing Corporation, resort specialist Robert MacLellan
of MacLellan & Associates, architectural and interior design firm OBMI Bermuda and
Bermuda Realty Company Limited involves the conversion of the existing 78 - two and
three bedroom condominiums into a full-service condo hotel with resort leisure amenities.
The property is being redeveloped by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation with
expert input from the specialist resort co-developer team, who are providing the design,
project management, operations, marketing experience and resources.
The majority of the condominiums – 71 in number - are being refurbished with new
kitchens and bathrooms, additional windows and new floor coverings. The remaining 7
condominiums are being converted into a reception area, bar, restaurant, meeting room,
commercial kitchen, spa and operations support areas. Elevators are to be installed in 8 of
the 9 condominium blocks, with the construction of two swimming pools and the
installation of two Hill Hiker trams to provide access to the beach below and add stability
to the cliff face.
The condominiums will be marketed as deeded vacation homes on an outright sale basis to
individual owners (available to both local and international purchasers). However, owner
usage by condominium buyers is restricted to a maximum 90 nights per year, with the
balance of nights available for use as hotel inventory under a mandatory rental programme
contract, which shares income between individual owners and the resort operating
company.
Almost 50% of the condominiums will be modified to include “lock-off” en-suite
2 bedrooms and thus increase the number of suites and rooms available for hotel
accommodations to 111.
Phase 1 – comprising 70 of the 111 keys will come online in July next year with the
remaining 41 units in 2021. The agreement with the Hilton franchise will provide access to
their world-wide marketing and reservations systems.
The proceeds to BHC from this agreement will allow the Corporation to clear the debt on
this site and provide funds and resources to better focus on its core mandate of providing
housing for the people of Bermuda.
We are delighted to reach this milestone and I am pleased to report that over 20 local
contractors and suppliers have already contributed to the renovation of the show units you
will shortly see. As we move forward employment opportunities will increase apace as we
accelerate the renovations of the remainder of the property.
I would like to commend both the teams at the Housing Corporation ably led by General
Manager - Major Barrett Dill and Finance Manager Mr. Mark Melo, the Bermuda
representatives of Bermudiana Beach Resorts Mr. Colin Campbell of OBMI, Mr. Brian
Madeiros of Bermuda Reality and of course industry veteran Mr. Robert MacLellan – all of
whom have worked tirelessly to bring this deal to fruition.
We are confident that the development of this exciting new tourism property in
partnership with Hilton will greatly enhance our tourism offerings.
Thank you.
Photos include: Premier Burt, Minister Burch, Minister DeSilva, Barrett Dill, BHC and resort specialist Robert MacLellan of MacLellan & Associates.
