Elbow Beach staff -- between them they have put in almost 59 years at the hotel.

Bell captain Mr. Hunt has worked at the hotel for 34 years, and is "a wonderful example to everyone,'' says managing director John Jefferis, who worked with Mr. Hunt for ten years.

"He has always been completely unflappable, even when there are 600 pieces of luggage floating about the property. And he has never lost one piece. However stressed he is he has never failed to be gracious, friendly, and professional with the guests.'' New general manager Mr. Tim Russell describes Miss Douglas, who is in her twenieth-fifth year at Elbow, as "one of the finest executive housekeepers I have ever met. She is tough and firm, but loved by everybody, and she has the same rules for everyone. All of us would do well to model ourselves after Frances Douglas as a manager.'' Both Mr. Hunt and Miss Douglas are delighted with the latest physical changes to the hotel.

"I think it's all for the better,'' said Miss Douglas, who originally signed on as a corridor maid and now oversees the entire housekeeping staff.

"All the decor, inside and out, especially the gardens, is very gorgeous. The rooms are really, really nice, with new carpet, drapes, spreads and armoires to keep the televisions in. The pool deck is nice, too, you just mop it up instead of sweeping it now.'' "It's nicer to come to work now,'' added Mr. Hunt, who started out as a relief bellman and now heads up a staff of nine that includes the bellmen, door men and bus drivers.

"The place needed a nice new face lift, and I think it's much more elegant.'' Many of the repeat guests were full of compliments for the renovations, Miss Douglas said, especially about the new lobby.

"Everybody says how beautiful it is, and that it is long overdue.'' Both Miss Douglas and Mr. Hunt are looking forward to the changes they expect Wyndham to bring to the hotel.

"There have already been a lot of changes,'' said Miss Douglas, "and I think it's for the better. We have more meetings now, and people know where they stand. Before, people were kept a little in the dark. I think Wyndham is a good company.'' Mr. Hunt is cautiously optimistic, waiting to see what kind of differences the new style of management will make.

"I've got to wait to make an analysis, but I think it will mean good things if they keep to their promises.''