Sonesta Beach Hotel -- closed since November for a $15-million facelift -- is to open two weeks later than scheduled and won't be fully operational until June, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Managing director Mr. David Boyd confirmed last night that the hotel, which is owned by Connecticut-based Aetna Insurance and has been on the selling block for more than two years, would not re-open until March 31.

Its stated opening date had been March 12.

"We just feel that we need more time to get the hotel in a more acceptable shape for guests,'' Mr. Boyd said. "We had never intended to be fully open by March.'' Although the hotel has been plagued by renovation delays and the unexpected discovery of asbestos on its premises, Mr. Boyd attributed the postponement to the basic problems that accompany the refurbishment of an older facility.

"It (the delay) is the result of rehabilitating a 30-year-old facility that is constantly throwing surprises at you,'' he said. "When you tear down a wall, you never know what you're going to find.'' Mr. Boyd added that the hotel would not be fully operational until at least June.

"There's a chance that the last of the rooms on the third floor will not be ready,'' he said. "That represents about 12 percent of our capacity.'' On the subject of the more than 200 Sonesta employees that have been out of work since the fall, Mr. Boyd said that "the executive team (was) devising a plan, including training, to get them back to work'' as soon as possible.

Bermuda Industrial Union chief Mr. Ottiwell Simmons added last night that he was aware of the hotel's decision and understood the reasons for it.

"It's obviously disappointing for the workers because it means a long leg between lay-off and start-up,'' he said. "But its due to circumstances beyond anyone's control.'' Mr. Simmons said that he was notified of the hotel's situation three weeks ago.

In November, many Sonesta employees expressed outrage that they would receive no compensation from either their employer or the BIU.

"Why can't they afford to help out their employees?'' one young woman asked at the time. "How much is the hotel spending on the renovations -- $15 million?'' Sonesta has said that it hopes the overhaul will boost its saleability.