Hotel business recovery hinges on how the Covid-19 pandemic can be contained, the Bermuda Hotel Association has said.

Stephen Todd, the chief executive of the BHA, added that hoteliers were “optimistic that we will start to see a gradual increase in visitor arrivals”.

There are 23 hotels and guesthouses open and six resorts scheduled to open later this year.

Opening dates have yet to be fixed for Elbow Beach in Paget and the Fairmont Southampton.

Elbow Beach announced a temporary closure in July last year because of the impact of Covid-19.

The Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda’s biggest resort, shuttered last October for the same reason.

But management also announced a multimillion dollar renovation programme, which was due to be completed by next year.

Resorts now open range from the Azura Bermuda on South Shore in Warwick to the Willowbank Resort in Somerset.

Mr Todd said that BHA members stood “ready to welcome both first time and repeat visitors and guests to their properties and our overall destination”.

He added: “The constraint at the moment is that with significant reduced airlift by our airline partners, primarily due to the adverse impact and lockdowns which the Covid-19 pandemic is having on our major trading partners in the US, Canada and the UK.

“We must await improved conditions in controlling the virus and increased interest on the part of travellers to begin to travel internationally once again.”

Mr Todd said hoteliers were resigned to a slow fight back to normality.

The airport closed to commercial flights last March and reopened on July 1.

But the airline industry has struggled to get off the ground.

British Airways cut flights to Bermuda last week from five a week to two because of the UK’s lockdown.

Air Canada this week dropped its Toronto service until April 12.

Cruise ships are scheduled to return on April 7 with the arrival of the Carnival Pride and the Norwegian Gem.

Mr Todd said: “We do recognise that it will be a much slower and longer progression before we begin to experience the volumes that experience prior to last year.

“Our objective remains to ensure that we can keep as many of our industry colleagues employed as we seek to grow overall hotel visitor stays and occupancy levels.”

Hotels open:

Azura Bermuda

Aunt Nea’s Inn

Blue Horizons Guest House

Coco Reef Resort

Coral Beach Club

Edgehill Manor Guest House

Fourways Inn

Greenbank Guest House

Little Pomander Guest House

Newstead Belmont Hills Resort

Paraquet Apartments

The Reefs Club

Rosemont Guest Suites

Rosewood Bermuda

Royal Palms Hotel

The Sandpiper Guest Apartments

The Loren Hotel

Hamilton Princess & Beach Club

Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa

Grotto Bay Beach Resort

Valley Cottages

Granaway

Willowbank Resort

Hotels scheduled to open:

Pompano Beach Resort: February 26, 2021

The Reefs Resort: March 1, 2021

Garden House: April 1, 2021

St Regis Bermuda: April 1, 2021

Bermudiana Beach Resort: July 1, 2021

Rosedon Hotel: October 1, 2021

Still to be announced

Elbow Beach

Fairmont Southampton