Guests at the Daniel's Head Village Resort rallied to the facility's defence yesterday, eager to say they were warned it was not quite ready.

And the manager of the facility, Richard Quinn defended the resort's concept and explained the special tent/cottages could withstand a strong hurricane -- while the guests were moved to even more sturdy buildings.

They were responding to Saturday's story about the resort in which US visitor Gary Waltz blasted the facility and claimed no-one would return.

"I really don't want to get in a tit for tat with Dr. Waltz, the American doctor who checked out hours after arriving, complaining the facility was not ready,'' said Mr. Quinn.

"We called it a soft opening, and there is still some work to be done. If you come back in a week's time, you'll think it is something different.'' Mr.

Quinn admitted he thought Dr. Waltz' comments were "unfair'' because other guests had no opportunity to have their say.

Mr. Quinn explained concerns over the safety of the special "tent cottages'' central to the resort were unfounded because they were built to international (BOCA) standard and rated to withstand winds of 115 miles per hour.

He also said there was a contingency plan to move guests to former Canadian Forces barracks for safety "long before it reaches that point''.

Grant Collins and Catherine Brown-Collins, who last Tuesday were the first couple to check in, said they had no illusions about the condition of the property.

And like all others The Royal Gazette spoke to, the Washington DC area couple said they had been telephoned weeks before their arrival and had received a follow-up letter from Mr. Quinn warning them of the "soft opening''.

Eco-resort his staff have been wonderful,'' Mrs. Brown-Collins, a filmmaker, said. "We believe in what they are trying to do and I think it can bring a lot to the Island. This is a work in progress and that was something we knew before we came here.

"It's a great idea and it has some great beaches and the tents are wonderful,'' she added.

Mr. Collins, a business executive, said he had a "visceral'' reaction to Dr.

Waltz' comments and said comparing an unfinished resort to a final product and an eco-resort to a five-star hotel was "like comparing apples to oranges''.

Guests who have decided to stay at the resort over the next few weeks have been promised concessions like complimentary airport transportation and free meals.

The couple said they can only imagine what the resort will look like in the near future.

San Francisco area law students John and Mary Fitzpatrick said they were upset at the comments in Saturday's paper.

"I note he admits he bypassed his travel agent,'' Mr. Fitzpatrick said. "We were contacted by telephone and we got a letter from Richard and he offered certain amenities. This is Bermuda in the summer, it's going to be hot. There is a cool breeze coming off the ocean that is incredible.

"I'm sorry he feels that way but the man came here and he didn't like what he heard and so he ran to the papers,'' Mr. Fitzpatrick added. "The staff have gone out of their way to accommodate us comfortably.'' New York travel agent Jeanne Quinn and Craig Rustici said they would recommend the "rustic'' Daniel's Head Village Resort.

"I think people need to envision what it will look like in the future,'' Ms Quinn said. "Just look out that window and you'll see a view unlike any other! And to be honest, they never said it was going to be air conditioned.'' Mr. Rustici added: "I like the tent cabin idea a lot. That's what got us to inquire about it. This is pretty much what I expected.'' Kenneth Strati of Connecticut said his family "had not been disturbed once'' during their five days at the resort and said it had gotten a "black eye''.

"Granted it's not complete, we have stayed in many luxury hotels, but this is a very quiet, relaxing atmosphere,'' the chief executive officer said. "It's something that we were looking for. We were definitely warned they were not at 100 percent. It's not uncomfortable in the rooms.'' He added: "The developers have accomplished something special without impacting on the environment. Get the record straight. He's not the only person out there.''