Receivers for the closed White Sands Hotel are hopeful it will be sold within 30 days and re-open shortly after in time for this year's tourism season.

Twelve business groups from Bermuda, the United States and Canada have expressed strong interest in the Paget hotel and offers have already been made to buy it, receiver D. Geoffrey Hunter of Pricewaterhousecoopers told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

He said he was hopeful the proceeds of the sale would allow staff who have not received wages since December to be paid.

Mr. Hunter said all of the potential buyers had also said they would be interested in re-employing the staff laid-off and want to keep the property as a hotel.

The Royal Gazette understands that one prospective buyer is interested in turning the property into an up-market hotel that can be used by business executives and tourists.

Bank of N.T. Butterfield called in the receivers at the beginning of the month after the hotel's owner, New Jersey-based James M. Dwyer, failed to keep up with payments on a loan.

No serious maintenance work has been done on the 32-bedroom hotel and its three beachfront cottages, so the new owners will have to work quickly to bring it up to scratch to open it for the season.

Mr. Hunter said yesterday: "We have received offers for the property and representatives from approximately half of these serious expressions of interest have visited the property.

"The sale process so far has been very positive. There have been very positive expressions of interest and we expect to be able to conclude a sale within the next 30 days and re-open shortly thereafter.

"Of those parties that have visited, they have all expressed an interest in quickly re-opening the property and have indicated a willingness and ability to make a significant commitment of expenditure on the property.

"The potential purchasers have expressed a strong interest in re-employing the staff."

The hotel and Mr. Dwyer have been hit with a series of writs over unpaid bills and staff claim they have been given the run-around from the American owner when they have tried to find out if they will be paid.

When asked if he was hopeful staff will be paid, Mr. Hunter said: "My great concern is that we are able to conclude a deal based on the going concern value of the property that will sufficient to allow the employees to be paid.

"To accomplish that, we have to conclude a sale as quickly as possible to get the property back on the market. Discussions to date would indicate there is a good possibility that will occur."

Tourism Minister David Allen has not responded to written requests for comment sent to him on Monday.