week whether their plans have been approved, have scrapped the idea for a 1,000-seat convention hall.

They have opted instead for a series of smaller meeting rooms and a main ballroom.

The size of the hotel has also been reduced -- from 300 rooms to between 200 and 250.

The changes were confirmed by Sen. the Hon. Michael Winfield, who is heading the group developing the $130-million office, apartment and hotel complex planned for the old Bermudiana Hotel site.

Sen Winfield said the convention rooms would be multi-purpose and could be expanded or contracted according to group size.

He said developers had agreed it would not be cost efficient to have a 1,000-seat convention hall when the hotel could not accommodate 1,000 guests.

There were also only about 12 really large conventions in Bermuda each year, he added.

But Sen. Winfield conceded the prestigious hotel chain awarded the management contract for the hotel had had much to do with the decisions.

The Four Seasons group was making the Bermuda hotel into their "jewel property'', Sen. Winfield said.

They felt 200 to 250 rooms was in keeping with their plans for "a very upmarket and sophisticated hotel'', he added.

Sen. Winfield said he had just returned from spending three days in Toronto, Canada with Four Seasons executives, discussing plans for the hotel.

They appeared "very keen'' on Bermuda.

The plans, opposed by Hamilton Corporation and neighbouring hotels, are currently before the Development Applications Board.

While BFCL developers are opting for less convention seating, the West End Development Corporation (Wedco) is reportedly planning an ambitious 800-seat meeting hall in the former sail loft building, west of the Clocktower shopping centre.

Wedco hopes to attract large incentive and convention travel groups. But it is not expected to open for business until next year, according to Bermuda Dateline magazine.

Meanwhile, work is continuing on installation of an escalator and elevator in the Clocktower building to provide easier access to its upstairs Multi-Purpose Centre, Dateline reported.