Golf legend Nick Faldo and luxury hotel chain St. Regis were represented during a reconnaissance of the former Club Med resort in St. George’s by developers Bazarian International.

A high-powered delegation toured the long-derelict site this week in the company of Tourism Board chairman E. Michael Jones, as behind-the-scenes negotiations continue towards sealing a re-development deal that is anticipated will bring a prestigious St. Regis hotel resort to the East End.

After a number of aborted attempts to breathe fresh life into the former resort, which closed almost 20 years ago, the current scheme is being headed by Carl Bazarian, who was himself part of the group that looked around the old hotel and also familiarised themselves with other aspects of Bermuda.

Also amongst the party was Nick Edmonds, representing Nick Faldo, raising the prospect of a new golf course being incorporated in the redevelopment and being endorsed by the golfing hero.

St. Regis Hotels, which markets itself as being in the “top tier” of the world’s luxury hotels and has the famed 1904 New York St. Regis Hotel as its flagship, is believed to be the hotel group that will eventually operate the new hotel and resort. Virginia Cobb, from St. Regis’ parent company Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, was another of the Club Med visitors this week.

The plan is to demolish the Club Med property and replace it with a low-rise hotel and a variety of guest cottages, apartments, residential and fractional units. Tourism Board chairman Mr. Jones said the developers would like to get started on the project “as soon as possible” and are awaiting permits and the signing of legal documentation.