World-leading hotel group Jumeirah expects to open the first stage of its planned Southlands hotel resort before the end of 2008 with the entire scheme up-and-running by the end of 2010.

An assurance has been given that Southlands' woodland reserve hinterland and its folly-esque quarry gardens dating back to the 19th century will be mostly preserved and enhanced for guests and visitors to enjoy.

The banyan trees with their impressive, ghostly aerial roots at the entrance to the Southlands estate from South Road will remain undisturbed, according to the developers.

A greenhouse has been created on the estate to begin nurturing plants that will eventually be used in the landscaping of the Jumeirah Southlands resort grounds.

The developers anticipate the southern portion of the resort campus featuring 66 suites looking out across South Shore will be completed before the end of 2008 and the rest of the project to be completed within 24 months.

The north and south sections of the resort will be connected by a land bridge across South Road, effectively placing a realigned South Road into a tunnel below.

According the developers the road works will be done in such a way that they do not affect motorists using South Road.

The convening of a major press conference featuring a number of Jumeirah Group executives, including CEO Gerald Lawless, was the strongest hint yet that the Southlands resort project involving the hotel group that runs "the world's only seven-star hotel" the Burj al Arab in Dubai, is about to be green lighted by Government.

A special development order (SDO) to allow the development to short-cut the normal planning process is currently under review by Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield.

There was criticism a year ago when the then Deputy Premier Ewart Brown stood in front of the former Club Med resort to announce an ill-fated deal to develop that location with neither a developer nor a hotel operator willing to appear in public to add substance to the announcement.

This time Premier Dr. Brown stood shoulder-to-shoulder not only with Jumeirah's CEO, who had flown in from Dubai, but also with developer Craig Christensen who has become the public face of the Southlands Limited, whose other owners are businessmen Nelson Hunt, Brian Duperreault and his wife Nancy.

Mr. Lawless said he met Dr. Brown when he visited Dubai a year ago and had been impressed by the Tourism Minister's invitation to consider Bermuda a possible location for a future resort. He said the speed with which things had been arranged to facilitate such a development had impressed him further.

"We feel Bermuda suits Jumeirah. We are looking for business and leisure visitors and we are committed to developing in the western hemisphere. Bermuda is one of the few places on earth that has been enhanced by human habitation," said Mr. Lawless, who previously has overseen the Forte Hotel Group in Bermuda and the Caribbean.

For the developers Mr. Christensen said: "Our perceived timeline to open Jumeirah Southlands resort will commence with 66 suites in 2008, with half of those offered as fractional vacation residences.

"As part of our plans a new road will be constructed on the Southlands site. Careful planning and design will ensure no disruption in the traffic flow to and from Hamilton."

According to the developers only 16 percent of the 37 acre Southlands estate will be built upon. The estate has 42 percent tourism zoning and a number of woodland reserve and open space areas. The plans seek to mix-and-match the different zones to suit the overall design of the resort, something that would fall foul of normal planning regulations but can be overcome through the granting of an SDO.

The arable farms and original farm house at Southlands are to remain intact, according to Mr. Christensen.

And included in the plans is a ten-storey staff housing complex to be sited in Hunts Quarry. The intention is to take Bermudian staff to Jumeirah hotels overseas as part of their training programme so they can learn and match the high standards of the luxury hotel chain.

When complete the new resort will boast 300 balcony suites, including 17 two-storey suites on the beach cliffs, five restaurants and bars, a night club and outdoor entertainment space, spa, 1,700 feet of beach, pools, conference centre and equestrian centre. Around half of the accommodation is to be offered for fractional vacation residence ownership. When Premier Dr. Brown was questioned about the danger of Bermuda's economy overheating with the anticipated construction of a number of hotel projects on the Island, he said it would be Government's job to moderate and control the economy to avoid such difficulties.

He added: "I am very aware of the voices in the community that have been expressing concern about the creation of this property. We have heard and we have listened.

"However, as one of the most ambitious and creative tourism projects in Bermuda's history, Jumeirah Southlands represents a winning proposition for Bermuda, its people and the tourism industry. We are delighted to put our full support behind a partnership of Bermudians that include three of our own most respected business leaders as well as Jumeirah."