1998.

The news was revealed yesterday by Tourism Minister David Dodwell after talks with Club Med officials.

He said Thursday's meeting was also attended by a "public hotel investor'' keen to form a partnership with Club Med.

This appeared to offer the best chance to date to run a successful hotel in the east end, he added.

"I hope to have the opportunity to share this new proposition with my colleagues within the next few days.

"I know there is a solution, and I am confident that one will be found soon.'' The 340-room property overlooking Fort St. Catherine in St. George's has stood empty since closing in 1988.

Last month Mr. Dodwell disclosed Club Med had approached Government with high hopes of reopening the hotel in May 1997.

Yesterday Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen voiced disappointment at prospects of another delay.

"I must admit, however, I'm not surprised since Club Med's credibility gap is pretty wide in terms of delivering on the promises they have made,'' he said.

"We have had concerns that Club Med has been using the property as a tax write-off under US tax law.'' Mr. Allen added the stop-start progress of discussions over reopening Club Med had probably left visitors confused.

For he had recently seen the property featured in a major United States trade magazine, leading people to believe the hotel was reopening soon.

"It is clear Club Med have not got their act together,'' said Mr. Allen.

Yesterday Mr. Dodwell appeared optimistic of a breakthrough.

This was in stark contrast to last month when he revealed talks with Club Med officials had faltered following their latest requests, which Government rejected.

At that time Mr. Dodwell said Club Med approached Government in February regarding the reopening of the hotel in May next year.

Several meetings followed and compromises were reached on all the relicensing requirements, particularly relating to fire safety, sewage treatment and room standards.

Government bent over backward -- but Club Med wanted more, claimed Mr.

Dodwell.

Yesterday Mr. Dodwell said: "Over the past few weeks the Ministry and Club Med have met on a number of occasions to explore how best to effect the recommencement of hotel operations at the earliest possible opportunity -- one that has the best chance of long-term economic success for both Club Med and the people of Bermuda.

"As a result of my meeting with Club Med officials yesterday, I have to announce that the Government has received a request to delay the reopening of the hotel by one year until the spring of 1998 -- a development I will clearly need to discuss with my Cabinet colleagues.'' Mr. Dodwell added: "That said, I am anxious and pleased to announce that yesterday's meeting was attended also by a public hotel investor whose talks about a partnership with Club Med would appear to offer a viable alternative and the best opportunity, I have seen to date, for a successful operation at the east end.'' Mr. Allen, however, feared Club Med were stalling again.

"I am concerned that we will find ourselves in the same position in 1998,'' he said.

He added Club Med appeared to be stringing Bermuda along and "playing games.'' "Our patience is wearing thin.'' Mr. Allen also voiced surprise at Mr. Dodwell's description of the third party at Thursday's talks with Club Med.

"The wording was very curious in that he described him as a public hotel investor. What exactly does that mean?'' Mr. Dodwell could not be reached to clarify the description.