An ambitious plan by a team of Bermuda businessmen and women to build a more-than-$275 million multisport training, arts and entertainment resort complex at Dockyard was named in the new National Tourism Plan as one of seven “core products” the Island should develop.The Tourism Plan’s “product development strategy” says a “multisport training facility” along with “niche sport facility development” (diving, fishing, golf) could “create demand drivers and reduce seasonality” in tourism.The development team for the proposed CUT Complex, which would include a 325-room hotel, waterpark and supermarket, includes: Aideen Ratteray-Pryse, Tulani Bulford, Peter Terceira, Glyn Quarterly, Alan Burland, Patrick Caton, Cordell Riley, and Peter and Suzanne Wilson.The project is in partnership with the West End Development Corporation (Wedco).The team spoke to us about their idea for the complex, saying that the support in the new National Tourism Plan would be a big help in finding initial local investors to get the project off the ground in a tough economy.Mr Wilson, speaking on behalf of the team, said overseas financing was being pursed with “positive interest, and would welcome the buy-in to the project from the National Tourism Plan”.He said the development team’s main goals were to create a self-sustaining complex that would benefit Bermuda’s youth and tourism.The CUT Complex will be located on Moresby’s Plain at the former HMS Malabar base. The group has signed an agreement with Wedco to have the undeveloped land, the former quarry, for the project.In addition, the complex has received Government’s “in principle” support for the concept designs, which are being further developed to apply for planning approval.Mr Wilson stressed that the planned complex was “first and foremost a sustainable business”.“Below that first aim,” he said, “is a business model that fosters youth, sport, vocational training and the arts, facilitating self development and employment for youth; the CUT Complex permits the hosting of signature events, sporting and a wide multitude of other signature events ... and stimulates tourism and the economy.”The CUT complex is designed to feature more than a dozen sports and arts facilities plus a hotel:l Sports Training Facilities and fields for all sportsl Entertainment Areas with purpose built stages for small to large outdoor concertsl Performing Arts and Dance School; Film production, Radio & TV broadcasting; Recording Studio; Film /Media Auditoriuml Marine Training School;l FIFA standard football field which is also sized for Rugby, field hockey etc.l Training running tracksl Sports Physiotherapy Centre including wellness, health and beauty facilitiesl All purpose gymnasium for basketball, badminton, netball and gymnastics etc.l Boxing facilityl Squash Courtsl Two indoor covered tennis courtsl Indoor covered diving & 50m pooll 325 room 3-star hotel, 96 room team accommodation, 48 room staff facility, two restaurantsl Three cinemasl 20 lane bowling alleyl Supermarketl Electric Go-Karting Trackl Boathouse for kayaking, water sports and sailing.l Public coastal boardwalk, children’s water and fun parkMr Wilson said it was decided to include performing arts in the complex because Bermuda had a strong history of music, dance and theatre.“It is also a part of providing opportunity and vocational training,” he said. “To put on a show, music or theatre, requires designers, electricians, carpenters, painters and to get them a qualification gives vocational employment.Mr Wilson added that the CUT Complex when complete would provide more than 400 jobs, with more than 120 allocated to young Bermudians.He and his wife Suzanne, who works in marketing and event management, started promoting the idea of the CUT Complex three years ago.“We started from the simple concept of providing alternatives and repositioning tourism in Bermuda,” he said.Bermuda does not have the best weather for a solely beach holiday vacation year-round, he said, however, it does have excellent, mild year-round weather for sports training and other activities.Mr Wilson said they are working closely with Terceira Quarterly architects, who have designed the project to meet all the necessary criteria for an international standard Sports Tourism training complex.In addition, he said all buildings will be designed to meet LEED Certification for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects, including the incorporation of sustainable power and energy resources.They now need partners to invest in the project, estimated to cost $275 million. The first phase will be $100 million.Asked what makes the CUT Complex different from all the other major tourism resort developments built or proposed in Bermuda, Mr Wilson said: “The ‘Business Plan’ for the CUT Complex is not reliant on selling real estate in the form of fractional, condominiums and residences as being the measure for success or failure. It is a community development. It is sustainable. Providing jobs is a key component.”