Overseas investors are keeping a watching brief over the planned $200 million redevelopment of the Wyndham Hotel and Resort to see if Bermuda now truly has become a place where major hotel investment can succeed after decades of relative inactivity.

And Alan Worden, who is at the centre of moves to bring new life to the South Shore resort, is confident from support received from Government and the Tourism Ministry that the Wyndham project will be viewed internationally as a pivotal moment encouraging new faith in the Island amongst investors.

?Bermuda has not had significant capital investment in the hospitality sector for 10 or 20 years. Even now there have been comments from investors about Bermuda being a place where you can?t invest. We are a test and I?m confident will succeed,? said Mr Worden.

?The timing is right. We have committed capital already and there is another amount ready when we have some relatively simple permits secured.

?There are other investment groups who have called us and said they are watching and I?m sure that we will come through the other side of the process successfully.?

Mr. Worden is managing director of Windwalker Bermuda LLC, an investment consortium financed by lending giants Lehman Brothers, which has taken ownership control of the Wyndham Resort with the intention of turning it into ?a five or six star resort? involving the total redevelopment of the 1960s-built Carlton Wing and renovation of the newer Bay Wing.

It is also envisaged that a recreation and social club for use by resort guests and Islanders will also be created. Plans and designs have still to be drawn up and a timetable for the development has not been laid down, although it is anticipated there will be a need to close the resort at some point to carry out the changes. Staff who were laid off in January when the hotel closed suddenly have been re-hired and there are now more staff working at the 32-acre resort than before.

Early season occupancy levels are high and Mr. Worden is enthusiastic for the future of the hotel under its new ownership. It continues to be managed by the Wyndham Hotel and Resorts Group.

He has an old photograph of his wife when she was a child surrounding by immaculate and beaming staff from a time when the hotel was known as the Sonesta.

Mr. Worden believes the hotel can recreate its second-to-none reputation for service.

He has met with Premier Alex Scott, the Cabinet and Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown and has been impressed by the support and assistance already given to his consortium. So far $30m has been committed to the project, another $20m is waiting to be spent in the next phase and by the time everything is completed he estimates the cost will amount to $200m.

?We are engaging with our neighbours, with the Bermuda Industrial Union, and with the Tourism Ministry who have been incredibly helpful. Dr. Brown is doing a fantastic job and the permanent secretary Marc Telemaque is one of the best civil servants I have come across,? he said.

Government efforts to encourage more visitors to the Island, the arrival of more low cost airlines, the Island?s history as a safe environment within the greater Caribbean region and its reputation for hospitality service, were all factors in Mr. Worden and Lehman Brothers deciding to invest in the hotel.

Mr. Worden added: ?Bermuda has not led in tourism for the last ten years or so and its competitors in the Caribbean have gone ahead. But there is no reason for that to persist and we are going to be part of the change. I believe Bermuda?s best days are ahead.?