Cottages at Elbow Beach Hotel have undergone a multi-million dollar upgrade, which general manager Frank Stocek believes will result in a more up-market feel to the resort.

And Mr. Stocek said he is looking forward to a busier summer, with bookings doing well for June and July. This coming weekend the property is sold out.

But he added there were no plans to develop the main hotel in the near future. Since closing the main hotel in December Mr. Stocek and his team have focused on improving the level of service for the 98 rooms, which remain open, in cottages dotted around the property.

In the last 100 days the property has undergone a $5.5 million upgrade, which has seen it meet Mandarin Oriental standards. This has included all new beds, bedding, artwork and electronics among other upgrades. The entrance way has been repaved and decor in the lobby and lounge has also been changed.

All this was done in a bid to up the standards of the hotel, which is now billing itself as a luxury cottage colony destination.

"We have always been top-first, meaning that our top end cottages sold out first, then the ones further back and then the hotel," Mr. Stocek said. "In the past we have had two standards with the hotel and cottages.

"Now everything is luxury standard from the road to the rooms. It is more intimate as well; with 98 rooms we can provide much more service. "

The staff has also been busy improving their skills.

The human resources department has brought down Mandarin Oriental trainers to raise the standards to that of other Mandarin properties. Some staff have also gone to the US to check out their sister hotels.

"Guest recognition is a big one," Mr. Stocek said. "I like it when our staff go to other Mandarin hotels, they come back and it is like 'now I get it'. Last week 58 people went through training here."

As for the changes, he said: "We have a beautiful product, and it is something I am very proud of. June and July bookings are up from last year [which was one of the worst on record]. People are waiting until the last minute to book holidays so it can be hard to read into the future, but we are doing better."

Along with the closure of the rooms in the main building Elbow Beach also did away with its food and beverage service five months ago.

It now relies on The MEF Group to provide its customers with meals while Elbow staff focus on ensuring all other areas of their stay are enjoyable.

"It allows us both to concentrate on what we do best," he said. "They provide breakfast, lunch and dinner so our guests are happy. Already Mickey's [the popular beachfront restaurant] is busy."

Guests can also eat at Lido or Sea Breeze, the other two restaurants run by the group on the hotel property. The MEF Group has also brought in a new executive chef to oversee all three restaurants; something Mr. Stocek said has made the offerings even better than they were before.

As for the main hotel Mr. Stocek said he does not believe any development will be done in the near future. "The owners are coming in a week and looking at the changes and having board meetings," he said. "We will see when they want to move forward on the development. With the economic climate, that won't be over in a year or so, so we will wait that out.

"We want to get this hotel stabilised first in the cottage format and then we will look forward after that. It can take 12 months to stabilise a hotel."