150 new jobs to be created by hotel's renovations

The multi-million dollar project to renovate the Hamilton Princess will create more than 150 jobs.

And the Green family, who recently bought the hotel, say Bermudians will fill most of the new positions.

By November 2013 they predict 120 people will be working on the site for the first phase of -construction work on the marina, pool and restaurant as well as renovation of the Poinciana Wing. And this is set to jump to 150 at the ‘peak’ of the development work in December and January.

At least two new full-time employees will also be hired to work at the marina from mid-2014.

And new staff will also be recruited to work at the -restaurant. Also, the Green family recently hired 15 Bermudians to work on the clear-up operation at the old Sonesta Beach site, which they bought earlier this year.

A spokesperson for the family said: “When the building work starts in late fall there will be 120 construction workers on the Phase 1 development project, but we will need up to 150 workers at the peak of the development work.

“These workers will be mostly Bermudian.

“They will be hiring at the very least 2 new employees for the Marina.

“The Green family just employed 15 Bermudians who are working with them on cleaning up the Sonesta site.”

Earlier this week the Green family thanked MPs and Senators for passing the Hotels Concession (Fairmont Hamilton) Order 2013, which provides concessions and tax breaks for the project.

The family said: “We wish to emphasise that a project of this size would not be possible without the appropriate tax concessions as the financing of the project was contingent on getting these concessions. “We understand that there was a miscommunication with regard to the terms of the original Hotel Concessions Order but we were pleased with the speed and professional manner in which Minister Crockwell and his team dealt with rectifying this situation.

Low season work

“By dealing with the situation quickly, we are now able to get the necessary approvals in place to start construction later this year during the hotel’s low season.”

They added: A large portion of this concession will be spent on marketing the redeveloped Hamilton Princess Hotel through international campaigns that will raise the profile of Bermuda as both a destination for tourists as well as business travellers.

“The remainder of the tax breaks will be spent on training Bermudians and local entertainment.”