The luxury Tucker's Point Club took a step closer to completion yesterday when planning permission for the hotel and spa was granted, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The hotel and spa are part of a $250 million development, which will include a private golf club, beach and tennis club, and residential developments.

Jim Brown, the president of exclusive Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, which will manage the hotel, was in Bermuda for his first visit yesterday and met Premier Jennifer Smith and Tourism Minister David Allen at the House of Assembly.

Demolition of the former Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort on the 200-acre site is expected to be completed by February next year with construction beginning around October or November of 2002. The scheduled opening of the hotel is 2004.

The planning approval, which follows submission of an environmental impact study, covers 150,000 feet of floor space in 15 buildings, which include public areas, a restaurant, lounge bar, meeting rooms and administration area in three central buildings of two and three storeys; a single storey spa and health club and two swimming pools. The resort will also have 108 rooms and suites grouped around the central buildings.

After the meeting, Mr. Brown told The Royal Gazette: "It is a terrific sign that the project is moving forward and on schedule.

"Every time we have brought an ultra-luxury hotel to an island, a lot of people who have moved away have the desire to come home, and this presents opportunities.''

And he revealed his company, which operates top hotels in the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico, is ready to start hiring Bermudians by the beginning of next year to train them overseas.

"In some cases, I think it will be appropriate in six to nine months to hire some Bermudians and take them to the US or our other resorts because part of an ultra-luxury hotel is the transfer of culture,'' he said.

Mr. Brown said at Rosewood's award-winning Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico, more than 90 percent of staff at the opening four years ago were still at the resort.

Ms Smith said: "We are very pleased the project is moving forward. The Government has made sure we have been very conscientious partners in helping and assisting because we are excited by the project and by Rosewood's participation in particular.

"We like Rosewood's identification with Bermuda, and Bermuda's identification with Rosewood. I am particularly delighted that the announcement in the industry has generated an interest among Bermudians hoping to come home.''

Mr. Allen said any Bermudians who work for Rosewood would find it the highlight of their career as it would open up jobs anywhere in the world.

Mr. Allen, who spoke to staff at Las Ventanas al Paraiso last year, added: "Once they are there, they never want to leave. People see it as the epitome of their careers, and once they have worked there they can get a job anywhere.

"Having heard this first hand from staff there has given me a great deal of confidence and excitement.''