Elbow Beach Hotel closes its main building for several years today the property first opened its doors 101 years ago.

A revamp of the main building is scheduled in 2012. Until that is completed, the resort will offer rooms in its cottage colony which will be upgraded over the coming months.

And guests will be allowed continued access to the hotel's spa, pool, fitness club and kids' club. Today's partial closure is part of a plan by the owners to ride out the recession which has caused bookings in hotels around the world to plummet.

Managing director Frank Stocek said: "[Tomorrow] we enter a new chapter in the history of Elbow Beach and we pay homage to a legacy of hospitality that was started 101 years ago.

"On a daily basis we will continue to take special care of our guests with the high standards of service the resort is renowned for, whilst introducing our new enhancements and refurbishments in a phased basis over the next few months."

The Veranda Bar and Lounge and the Seahorse Grill restaurant close today for refurbishments. Between January and March the hotel will do the following upgrades:

• The free-standing Bermuda Room will be restored it to its authentic 1908 design and become a meeting and banqueting venue for small groups, weddings and social functions.

• The Veranda Bar will be recreated into a lounge with Internet stations, high-definition television, a library, an antique billiards table and a complimentary refreshment station.

• A bar and entertainment facility will replace The Deep nightclub.

• The cottages will see also see improvements to entertainment systems and bathroom facilities and the introduction of 300 thread count linens, iPod docking stations and espresso machines.

"We anticipate that by April 2010 our transformation shall be complete and we look forward to introducing our new smaller and more intimate resort to our valued guests," Mr. Stocek said.

It is not the first time the hotel has closed for upgrades. Previously it has closed for only a few months during the winter period. In total $145 million was spent upgrading the property between 1990 and 2001.

Mr. Stocek continued: "The plans for the redevelopment of the main building are under development. We are currently looking at 2012 for the commencement for this large-scale project."

During its 100th anniversary last year, Mr. Stocek told The Royal Gazette he believed owner Prince Khaled's emotional attachment to the property, coupled with Mandarin Oriental's management, would help return Elbow Beach Hotel to its rightful place among top resorts worldwide.

Do you have fond memories of time spent at Elbow Beach? E-mail roklynch@royalgazette.bm.