A trouble-shooter has been brought into the Government-run Stonington Beach Hotel which lost $275,000 last year.

And the resort is expected to soon have its first union contract in ten years.

Leon O'Brien, a Bermudian, is helping to turn the unprofitable resort around and re-establish it as one of the Island's top hotels -- turning out highly trained and renowned staff.

He is currently preparing a five-year plan that will require Government funding for the infrastructure and input from Bermuda College to re-position it as the premier training base on the Island.

The ultimate intention is to transform the hotel into a four ive diamond hotel, self-sufficient from Government aid.

Mr. O'Brien told The Royal Gazette the hotel lost around $275,000 last year, with losses in previous years around $170,000.

"Over the last few years it has been losing money. We are looking at ways we can maintain and make it profitable,'' he said.

"We want to bring it into its position as a premier hotel in Bermuda, representing our future and working with the college.'' Key to the revamping will be looking at ways of integrating students into the hotel and providing them, along with Bermuda College, with the best grounding.

"What we have to do is bring more students in and make them feel part of the process,'' Mr. O'Brien said.

"We haven't embraced them the way they should have been embraced.'' In addition, convention business will be developed, along with attempts to get the Bermuda public involved with the property.

To help prepare the best staff, Stonington is set to link up with the Summit hotel chain -- which has properties across Europe, America and the Caribbean.

The partnership will enable staff to work in different parts of the world, bringing experience back to Bermuda.

Mr. O'Brien, who has 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, stressed that his nine-month contract did not affect the status in any way of Stonington general manager Esan Frederick who is off the Island at present.

Bermuda College Board of Governors chairman Randy Horton said Mr. Frederick's position was unchanged.

But he admitted the property was not doing as well as it should.

"Mr. O'Brien has been brought in to look at the total operation of the hotel, like any company that has experts come in, how we can become a more efficient hotel,'' Mr. Horton said.

Hotel expert to help Stonington "We need to be better. There is no question we need a much better run hotel.

We need a hotel that sets standards.'' Among the issues being addressed is a union contract, which Mr. O'Brien said had not been signed for ten years. He said it was now very close to agreement.

The ultimate aim, he said, was to re-position Stonington as a prestigious training facility and quality Bermudian hotel.

"We are going back to basics, trying to get to the objectives of what it was before,'' Mr. O'Brien stressed. "We are not trying to compete with other properties.''