Sonesta International Hotels president Stephanie Sonnabend yesterday defended the corporation's decision to appoint Joseph Violi over Dennis Tucker to run their Bermuda resort.

Formerly Trump International Hotel and Tower general manager, American Mr.

Violi arrived on Monday to assume the posts of president and director of Sonesta Beach Resort Bermuda.

It is a position many thought Mr. Tucker, who has served as vice president and manager since 1988, was qualified for.

"We have to look at what's best for the hotel. One of the major needs is getting more customers to the hotel. That's been a major challenge for us this year,'' Ms Sonnabend said.

"We felt we needed to focus on the marketing area and bring in someone with those strengths.'' Prior to his Trump Tower job, Mr. Violi worked with Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Hyatt Hotels from 1974 to 1994, managing several premier properties for each company. A native of Massena, New York, he graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in 1974.

Mr. Tucker's strengths are day to day hotel operations' management as well as government and community relations, Ms Sonnabend said.

Despite being passed over for the 400-room, 400-employee resort's top post, a position which he did apply for, Mr. Tucker told The Royal Gazette yesterday he was "not disappointed.'' On whether or not he felt he had been passed over, Mr. Tucker said: "I really can't get into all that. Both Sonesta and myself have worked out an arrangement we feel is best for the hotel and the employees. I am very supportive of it.'' He also said: "I have been very comforted by the support I've received from the public and from Government.'' On Monday, Sonesta International announced Mr. Tucker was promoted to vice president and general manager from vice president and manager.

Though Mr. Tucker remains second in command, the promotion was bonafide as he has "significant responsibilities'' under a management reorganisation discussed with staff yesterday.

Under the move, several departments now report to Mr. Tucker while Mr. Violi will oversee the resort's executive committee, financial management, marketing, physical plant, long-term planning and will act as liaison with Sonesta's corporate office and insurance giant Aetna, the resort's owner.

Mr. Tucker, who served temporarily in the hotel's top spot after the sudden resignation of David Boyd in June, began with the Bermuda resort as its chief accountant 20 years ago.

Earlier, rumours that Mr. Tucker would not be picked as the Bermuda resort's boss had sparked criticism from the Bermuda Industrial Union that Government was failing in its Bermudianisation policy while Shadow Labour Affairs Minister Alex Scott said the PLP was behind Mr. Tucker, calling him "eminently qualified'' to run the resort.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness, who met with all parties involved, called the appointment "the best possible solution'' since the hotel was in need of an executive with a solid marketing background.

A former Government senator, Mr. Tucker is currently a Bank of Bermuda director, president of the Employer's Council and president-elect of the Bermuda Hotel Association. In 1994, he was named Hotelier of the Year by the Bermuda Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association.

On Bermudianisation, he said he still feels that: "There are numerous opportunities for Bermudians for growth and advancement. There are opportunities in this (hotel) industry.'' Sonesta International, based in Boston, operates several upscale hotels and two Nile cruise ships. The company is currently developing a new resort in Costa Rica. In April, the Bermuda resort's $20 million renovation was completed.

The Sonnabend family has a majority holding in Sonesta International Hotels Corp., a publicly-held, NASDAQ-listed management company.

DENNIS TUCKER -- Passed over for top Sonesta post.