yesterday plugged development plans for the hotel's $65 million facelift as "very minimal'' and "environmentally sensitive''.

Marriott's did business all around the world, he said. The hotel group was regarded as a good corporate citizen, responsive to the needs of the people in the countries where it operated.

Furthermore, he said, proposed additions to the hotel including a golf clubhouse, golf practise range, spa, racquet and tennis club and 46 condominiums would employ up to 75 Bermudians.

While environmentalists are up in arms over the proposed development of Ship's Hill at Castle Harbour as the site for 27 of the 46 condominiums to be sold as residences to Bermudians and non-Bermudians, Mr. Borsink said the hotel's partners and developers of the property, Bermuda Properties Limited, was an environmentally responsible company.

And he said such development would not impact on the natural development of the resort. BPL was fully cognisant of conserving endemic species, he said.

The US firm, Robert Trent Jones, which designs top golf courses, were, Mr.

Borsink said, was also "very sensitive to the needs of the land and environmental issues''. Redesign of the Castle Harbour 18-hole golf course, now almost 70 years old, was necessary to keep up with the times and make the course more interesting for modern-day golfers.

He added that the houses would be "low density'' and built in the Bermudian style. They would, he said, "increase the activity around the hotel'' and reduce the likelihood of winter layoffs with residents using golf, spa, tennis and restaurant facilities.

However, Mr. Borsink could not say if non-Bermudian owners of the luxury condominiums would be able to rent them out. Those details, he said, had not yet been worked out.

The first phase of Marriott's Castle Harbour's new look begins this winter.

More than $4 million is to be pumped into redecorating guest rooms, a new board room, replacing carpets, furnishings and lighting in corridors, rooms and lounge areas this winter.

The hotel has vowed to stay open throughout the renovations which are slated to begin in December and end March.

Redecorating will be carried out throughout the hotel's Harbour Wing and Golf Wing rooms, presidential suites and guest rooms.