Government has received six enquiries about developing the Club Med resort since the doors were opened to fresh bids a week ago.

And the Canadian-based Quorum group, which had prepared a $220 million project to bring a Four Seasons hotel to the Island until shuffled out of the picture by Government, is standing by for a possible return. The future of the monolithic edifice overlooking the East End was thrown into renewed doubt when Premier Ewart Brown revealed KJA Developments, which had replaced the Quorum-led Renaissance Consortium, has in turn had its period of exclusivity to develop the site terminated. There is now no developer in place but Government has started contacting "high end" developers inviting them to indicate if they are interested in redeveloping the resort, including the main 340-bedroom hotel which closed in 1988 and now provides shelter for homeless people.

The dropping of the Quorum-led group last December astonished commentators only to be followed 10 months later by the termination of an agreement with Jack Avedikian's US-based KJA company.

Wanda Dorosz, of Toronto-based Quorum, has been made aware of the latest twist in the long-running saga by reading The Royal Gazette.

"We have met with our partners and we are reviewing the situation amongst ourselves," she said.

Although not confirming by name whether those partners still include the Four Seasons hotel group, she added: "Our partners have not changed. We have had a good chat. It was a tough time last year. We still love Bermuda, that has not changed and we pride ourselves in being professionals.

"The Quorum consortium has friends on the Island and we have been encouraged that people truly understand we are sincere and we are set to go."

Ms Dorosz said Quorum would wait to see if a formal RFP (Request For Proposals) is issued by Government to attract new bids.

When asked about this yesterday tourism permanent secretary Marc Telemaque confirmed RFPs are now being sent out.

"We have sent them to relatively high-end brand developers and we have had six enquiries asking for the documentation," said Mr. Telemaque.

And the Quorum group is not the only potential developer ready to take on the project. Bermuda businessman Patrick Bean was short-listed with Quorum in 2003 in the bidding process only to lose out to the Canadian-led consortium.

He had a partnership with Stepping Rock Developments, of Dallas, that would have led to a 110-bedroom hotel, 60 homes and a rehabilitation and rejuvenation centre for injured sportsmen and athletes.

Mr. Bean said his team could bring its plans back to the table, but does not intend to chase Government and will wait until Government approaches him.

"I'm still ready. My investors are still there. I'm waiting for Government to call. It would not be a problem at all and I'd ask for only 120 days to get a feasibility study. But a lease must be put in place so we have an idea what they are offering," he explained.

His team's $278 million scheme would involve the demolition of the hotel building and its replacement, a re-designed golf course and a sewage treatment plant.

According to Mr. Bean his project would include a rehabilitation and treatment centre for athletes.

Six potential Club Med developers