Images showing how the proposed new $170 million five-star Hilton Grand Vacation Club will look when built at the Ariel Sands resort on South Shore have been released.

Hollywood star Michael Douglas, part of the Dill family dynasty that has owned and operated the resort for the past 50 years, played a part in securing the interest of the world famous hotel group to come to Bermuda earlier this year.

The concept images and plans show ten buildings mostly three-storeys high, which will house 60 two- and three-bedroom vacation suites and will be sprinkled around the site with large glass frontages facing out onto the breaking waves of the South Shore.

There will be a central hotel and clubhouse complex that will entice guests in with cascading water features running all the way through, past the reception area to a landscaped inner courtyard lined by boutique shops.

This in turn turn leads to a hotel lounge area and on to an outdoor infinity pool looking out on to the beach and ocean.

A restaurant that includes an outdoor patio for al fresco eating is adjacent to the main complex. Within the main building is a restaurant waiting area and bar, a health and beauty spa, and a conference facility. Upstairs there will be ten hotel guestrooms.

Around the outdoor infinity pool are sun decks and wooden bridges across the pool. It will also be possible to swim from the infinity pool into a heated indoor swimming pool.

The plans have been submitted as part of a planning application and a decision on whether the scheme can go ahead is expected within the coming months.

Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown has previously spoken in support of the development, which is expected to attract 9,000 new well-heeled visitors to the Island each year as well as bring one of the world?s most prestigious hotel and resort names to Bermuda.

Architecture and design company Terceira Quarterly Limited has submitted the plans for consideration.

It is intended to phase the development in stages so that the resort remains open at all times. From start to finish the project is likely to take in the region of three to four years.

?The unique thing for Bermuda is that this will be a complete demolition and rebuild. A lot of resorts get revamped, but here the entire hotel is being demolished,? explained Glyn Quarterly, of TQ Limited.

He explained the new vacation club suites would have their own kitchens and bathrooms with spa facilities. There is also a fire place for use in the cooler months.

The buildings are designed to incorporate Bermudian architectural features such as stepped gables, but also to be more contemporary in style.

Peter Terceira, of TQ Limited, said the layout of the buildings was also designed around the topography of the site and to afford sea views to each of the suites. He added: ?Hilton Vacation Clubs are all around the world and they have members who can afford to buy time in Bermuda.?

The new venture will allow Bermuda to tap into an expanding community of 100,000 vacation club owners who already holiday at Hilton clubs in Scotland, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Florida and other destinations.

Members buy a fractional ownership and then can use their right to holiday in Bermuda or at other Hilton clubs and affiliated resorts around the world. Mr. Quarterly said: ?It is going to bring tourists in all year round. Hilton are over the moon with the development.?