best in Bermuda may be a step closer to reality, if major expansion plans recently submitted are approved.

The 90-year-old hotel, which recently underwent a $25-million facelift, has applied to the Development Applications Board to build 120 additional guest rooms, a 20,000-square-foot conference centre, 11 guest "Palace'' suites, and 39 luxury "villa'' condominiums.

The applications, submitted last month, are part of new owners Marcor Realty Ltd.'s five-year building plan that will see about $100 million invested to ensure the hotel's position "as Bermuda's best beach resort'' through to the year 2000.

The proposed development extends east from the 300-room hotel's current 34-acre site to the Bermuda College Stonington Campus.

The conference centre, to be used regularly for conventions and banquets, will be joined to the hotel. Access to the conference room will be below the hotel's ground floor.

Beach front "Palace'' suites, to be built near the hotel's tennis courts, will include whirlpool tubs, fire places, and marble-clad bathrooms.

According to the plans, 39 condominiums -- to be built on the old Frith Estate property purchased by Elbow Beach -- will including all the historical features of the `Grand House' and "the latest technological systems''.

The three-to-four-bedroom condominiums will have dining rooms that can comfortably seat 18 with a fireplace, sunken library and a secret door leading to a curved turret-stair which offers private access to the master bedroom, a kitchen and a chill room.

A complete security system, computerised finger-touch "mood'' lighting, full air conditioning and humidity control and room-to-room intercom, will also be included.

While The Royal Gazette understands many of the rented homes in the old Frith Estate area will not be demolished, the fate of the century-old Bermuda cottage "Sandicote'' is uncertain.

The cottage, with cedar beams and rafters, welcoming-arm steps, and an above ground water tank, was vacated last month.

Managing director of the Elbow Beach Hotel Development Co. Ltd. Mr. John Jefferis said he could not comment when contacted.

The National Trust's environmental committee is scheduled to meet on July 20 to review the Elbow Beach proposal.

Environmental officer Miss Anne Steele said the committee would be prepared to comment on the hotel's application after reviewing it.