Work permit backlogs at Immigration are adding to hoteliers' difficulties in finding and retaining the foreign staff they need in light of a shortage of Bermudians employees in the hospitality industry.

That was one of the points made by business people at the Bermuda Government, Hotel Owners Spring Summit 2008, which included wide-ranging discussion of tourism industry issues.

Hotel owners and managers discussed ways to improve the processing of work permits, the rising cost of construction for the industry, and protecting Bermuda's tourism sector from an economic slowdown in the US, with Premier and tourism minister Dr. Ewart Brown among those present.

Michael Winfield, chairman of the Bermuda Hotel Association and president of Cambridge Beaches, said immigration was a hotly-debated subject among Government and those in the hotel industry alike in the event held last week at the fairmont Hamilton Princess.

"The immigration issue was quite a lengthy debate — it is simply a matter that we believe immigration is over-run with the volume of applications and permits requests," Mr. Winfield said.

"But having said that, the response time of getting the permits processed is such that it is very difficult to find, hire and retain hotel staff and hotel staff are very difficult to find world-wide generally. First we cannot find Bermudians — we are desperately trying to find Bermudians and so we have to supplement with foreign staff.

"I think that there are issues within immigration and they (Government) is determined to address them and solve them."

Meanwhile, construction was another hot topic for hoteliers, with the cost of developing and building both hotels and properties increasing in the current climate, according to Mr. Winfield.

"We talked about the cost of construction in Bermuda — because of the heat in construction at the moment, the cost of construction for a hotel which is trying to compete on an international basis with rates is making it very difficult for hoteliers to build," he said.

"The Premier is telling us to upgrade facilities and we are finding it very difficult to do it and see a return on the investment."

Mr. Winfield revealed that the Premier is also keeping a close eye on affairs going on Stateside, while he believes that Europe and particularly the UK are the markets to look to for business in light of the declining strength of the dollar.

"The Premier has made it very clear that they (Government) are watching the economy in the US and I also believe that the UK and Europe offer potential, particularly with the currencies the way they are, and there is obvious focus on those markets," he said.