Bermuda’s newest five-star hotel is to begin the hiring process in January for its April opening, the property’s developer has revealed.

Laura Purroy, general manager of Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd, said the beachfront St Regis Bermuda Resort in St George’s expects to hire between 200 and 250 staff.

She added that the resort anticipates that Bermudians will be involved at the management level.

Ms Purroy said the hotel will advertise openings in January and February.

Staff members will be hired in February, and will complete a six-to-eight-week training period before the resort opens, she added.

Ms Purroy said the $150 million first phase of the resort will consist of a hotel with 120 rooms, all with an ocean view, as well as two restaurants, a spa, kids club, two swimming pools, a casino for which a provisional license has been granted by government, and the reopening of the golf course.

On the residential side, she said one building having 15 branded residences will open in April.

Ms Purroy said nine of the residences will have three bedrooms, and six will have two bedrooms.

A second branded residence building is also part of the first phase of the resort and will open in 2022. It will also have 15 condominiums.

Ms Purroy said additional condominium buildings “will be developed as the market allows”.

She added that the response to the hotel has “been amazing on and off-island”.

Ms Purroy said: “Groups and weddings have started to be booked for 2021 and 2022. We have yet to determine the exact opening date, and most likely we will have guests that day staying at the hotel.”

She added that the branded condominium residences have also proved popular.

Ms Purroy said: “The response has been positive and with the ability to reside in Bermuda and work remotely, the interest in the residences has increased significantly.

“St Regis offers an extraordinary lifestyle through their exquisite service and spectacular amenities.”

Ms Purroy confirmed that the hotel, including the restaurants, spa and golf course, will be open to local residents.

She added that the April opening has been the “target date since day one”.

Ms Purroy said: “It has been an extraordinary effort to remain on time and on budget for the opening of the St Regis Bermuda Resort.

“Hotelco Bermuda Holding made a commitment to Bermuda, and despite a five-week lockdown, three hurricanes and the impact of Covid-19 worldwide, we are able to deliver a first-class resort in a timely manner.

“This is a success story for Bermuda.”