Workers leaving the Marriott resort for the final time today will return once more to collect their final cheques -- and possibly a tissue or two as the doors close on the famous resort.

Around 370 staff have remained at the hotel during its last few weeks, as it slowly wound down towards today's closure -- and they will make their final trip to the site next week.

Some of the workers will be heading straight for the airport as the end of Marriott signals the culmination of their time in Bermuda.

And for payroll administrator Karen Santucci and human resources director Lorrita Tucker-Simmons it will mark the end of a period where they have acted as agony aunts and counsellors to concerned staff.

The pair have been in the firing line as severance packages and other details were finalised for the remaining staff -- who have had to come to terms with losing their jobs and a huge part of their lives.

Since August, around 100 workers have already left the hotel but up until today there was a full force of staff keeping the premises open and gradually battening down the hatches.

For some it has been difficult to take in whereas it may not sink in with others until they drive off for the last time.

Ms. Santucci said: "Even though we have known for two years it has still come up very very quickly. But everybody is glad it is going to be over.

"Around 40 percent of people have found jobs, 20 percent don't care and another ten percent are going to stay at home.'' Part of her duties have been working out how much redundancy pay staff are due, which has been difficult partly because for many people it is a completely new experience.

Anyone with under a year's service was not eligible, leaving packages ranging from $1,200 to $52,000 for the longest serving staff.

And to try and help staff find a new direction, Marriott have organised career and job fairs, and have instigated a flexi-time system to help staff who have found new positions.

For some, like Larry Postlethwaite, the end has brought staff to a crossroads.

The 68 year old doorman has worked at the hotel for 40 years and said he will leave a decision on his future until the New Year.

Workers emotional as resort closes "Nobody likes to be out of work but the place needs to be upgraded,'' he said.

"I will be working until the final day, it will feel strange after having been here for so long.'' As the final hours have ticked away, workers, like students leaving school for the last time, have made videos of their colleagues and had mementoes signed by friends.

And when the day comes for the final cheques, a week on Friday, Ms. Santucci admits that will probably be the hardest time.

"It will be a very strange feeling,'' she said.

"Most non-Bermudians leave the same day. I think that is when it will probably hit me -- to be handing out those final cheques, knowing some of those people will be going straight to the airport.

"It will be a very emotional day.''