It was party time at the Fairmont Southampton yesterday as more than 300 people from across the Island came to celebrate the re-opening of the Island's biggest hotel.

Premier Alex Scott led a roof wetting ceremony on the top of the building followed by a lunch to mark the hotel re-opening its doors following a $43 million refurbishment after Hurricane Fabian.

Fairmont executives flew in for the ceremony to pay tribute to the staff and management who had made possible the re-opening in such a quick time.

Fairmont executive vice president John Williams said Ernst and Young believed the refurbishment was completed eight months earlier than expected and it was by far the best managed restoration job of more than 1,000 the accountants had seen.

After Mr. Scott, Mr. Williams, Tourism Minister Renee Webb, Fairmont Southampton managing director Norman Mastalir and Richard Murton, whose company repaired the roof, poured some Gosling's Black Seal rum over the roof, the hotel had a drinks reception and lunch for more than 300 guests.

And after lunch, they repeated the roof wetting over a huge cake made in the shape of the hotel.

Mr. Scott told guests from the business and tourism sector: "The Princess in back. If there was ever any doubt, Bermuda is open for tourism business like never before.

"Truly this is a momentous occasion and on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda I am delighted to be part of the re-opening ceremony of this magnificent facility."

He said the Fairmont family had come together after Fabian and only 58 out of the 700 staff employed before the September 5 hurricane had failed to return to the company.

The re-opening was "a testament to the true grit and determination of not only those who employ, but those who are employed. It is the same community spirit that Bermuda came to embody after the storm," he said.

Mr. Williams said: "I work all over the world and Bermuda will succeed wonderfully as a tourist destination because of Bermudians, and because of Bermudians we've been able to get the job done so quickly."

Ms Webb said immediately after the hurricane, Government decided to do everything it could to help hotels re-open.

"This is an example of what can be done when we all as stakeholders work to get Bermuda back on track.

"Very often we beat each other up over little things when there are so many big things we should be proud of."

Mr. Murton, the owner of Murton Windows, which is part of Tecta America, said the new 100,000 square foot roof had been designed "to meet anything way above any normal roof system.

"If the roof goes now, it will be a really disastrous storm that will take it off. It has been a tough project. The weather has been brutal, but I am very proud that Tecta America has come to do this."