The Fairmont Southampton is back in business.

Yesterday, 219 days after Hurricane Fabian closed the Island?s biggest hotel, it welcomed its first guests through the doors.

Long-time Fairmont guests Berwick and Pat Slinger from Edmonton, Canada, were greeted at the front door by managing director and general manager Norman Mastalir.

Today is the official re-opening, but the hotel allowed the Slingers and a few other guests in early as they finished preparations for the big day.

The hotel has undergone a more than $40 million renovation after Fabian ripped off the roof causing extensive water damage to the main building and wreaked havoc across the entire property.

It was like a reunion yesterday when the Slingers arrived because they have known Mr. Mastalir since he ran the Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, Canada, in 1988.

He presented the couple with a copy of ?Picturesque Bermuda II?, which was signed by various members of the hotel staff who have got to know the Slingers during their previous three visits.

?Now that we have guests arriving , its official ? we?re back in business and the hotel has never looked better,? said Mr. Mastalir yesterday.

?Our phones are ringing, reservations are being booked, and it is shaping up to look like a strong summer.?

The Slingers have been to Bermuda four times, staying three times at the Fairmont Southampton.

Mr. Slinger said: ?We were here for our 50th wedding anniversary last February and they really spoiled us ? in fact they always spoil us.

?It?s quite an honour really to be treated like this. We had no idea until we were greeted at the door. We?ve been staying in Canadian Princess (the former owners of the Fairmont hotels) since the early days in Canada in the early 1950s and we?ve been going to Jasper Park Lodge for New Year every year since it opened in 1988.

?We?ve known Norman since then. The last time we came to Bermuda was special and this is special as well.?