One of the world's biggest movers and shakers in the tourism industry is on the Island this week to discuss his part in running a new proposed five star hotel on the South Shore.

German Horst Schulze, who served as the vice chairman of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company until last year and was formerly responsible for its $2 billion operations, has teamed up with Bermudian businessman Rammy Smith and partner David Johanson to open the new Cliff's Resort and Spa Hotel in Warwick.

It is hoped that planning officials will grant permission for the 104-bedroomed hotel to be built, along with 23 residential units, on the South Shore, close to Paw Paws restaurant, and Mr. Schulze's new management company West Paces Hotel Group, will run it.

Mr. Schulze, who is on the Island with his vice president of operations Bob Warman, will be joined by both Mr. Smith and Mr. Johanson at the Hamilton Rotary Club lunch this afternoon to discuss their plans and the future of tourism in Bermuda.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette last night, Mr. Johanson said the team was awaiting planning permission for the five or six star project, but hoped that once it was granted they could start building within four months.

They hope to have the new hotel open by the spring of 2006.

But Mr. Schulze said he had no doubt that visitors would come to Bermuda and stay at The Cliff's because it would be offering a first class experience in vacationing.

“Obviously, when we say high end, it has to come all together,” said Mr. Schulze, who in 1991 was recognised as corporate hotelier of the world by Hotels Magazine. When you leave a high end hotel you feel well, but if you can say why then there was something wrong. If you say the food was good, that means the rest was not so good.

“In order to give that five or six star experience, you have to make sure everything is to the highest standard, including service, ambience, surroundings, personal attention, furnishings, amenities, food etc.

“Everything has to work together and it has to be individualised. We have to take care of every guest as an individual and make sure they have everything they personally require.”

Mr. Schulze said he had no doubt that the market was out there just waiting to be tapped into, and he said he did not doubt that Bermuda could pull in the high end guests.

However, he said an area of major importance to the West Paces Hotel Group would be the training of staff and level of service provided, and he promised that Bermudians would be given the very best tuition for working in the industry.

Although, management may be brought in from overseas to start with, the team of partners said they envisaged the majority of the 150 or so staff and management being Bermudian.

And Mr. Schulze said his aim would be to train Bermudians up so that they could take over the managerial roles, and that could result in some locals being sent to the world-renowned Auburn University in Alabama for training and qualifications.

He added: “I have opened hotels in 14 different countries and at all times we opened up with some training groups and management that has come from somewhere else, but we have them out as quick as we can.

“I see them as teachers and trainers, but as soon as they have transferred their knowledge to local people then they go.”

Mr. Schulze said he was a big believer in the concept that hotel staff were there to serve the guests, but he said that did not mean they were servants or had to be subservient.

He added: “Service to me is a fine profession, but I'm not a servant. We are as important as anyone else, but we must provide fine service.”

And he went on: “High end people don't take chances with their destinations. They want to go somewhere special. It's our strength to deliver that. To get the customers here is not that difficult - to keep them here is difficult. Everything has to be right, but we aim to do that.”