It opened in 1972 as Bermuda's biggest hotel — and today the Fairmont Southampton retains that status as it celebrates its 35th anniversary. The famous pink landmark, which straddles South and Middle roads over a 100-acre site, is marking the occasion with a party for its 850-plus staff members later this month.

The last three-and-a-half decades have seen the hotel — originally called the Southampton Princess — play host to some of the world's best-known and wealthiest celebrities and dignitaries.

Sous chef Herbie Bascome has cooked for most of them — but cites his greatest achievement as introducing Bermudian breakfasts to hotel guests more than a decade ago (to see a video of him in action visit www.theroyalgazette.com).

The traditional island fare quickly became hugely popular and hundreds of plates of codfish and potatoes are now served there to locals and hotel guests every Sunday.

"When we first brought it in we just wanted to give the guests a taste of Bermuda," said the 67-year-old grandfather, who has worked at the hotel since 1976.

"We didn't expect it to go like it did. We can do 400 to 500 breakfasts some weeks."

Nelda Simons, regional director of human resources for Fairmont Bermuda, started as an administrative assistant to the hotel manager in 1977.

She remembers the Saudi royal family's stay in the late 1970s, which saw fresh lamb's milk flown onto the Island every day for more than week.

"From an entertainment standpoint, one of the most regular guests was Bill Cosby and his wife; she used to celebrate her birthday here," said Ms Simons.

"We've had US presidents, including George Bush senior. Tony Blair and Cherie have visited. The Queen and Prince Philip have visited, though they always stayed at Government House. Recently, we had James Belushi. Sometimes we'll have big name entertainers in the hotel who are performing at a convention and the public will never know. The list is endless. We have had some extraordinary guests."

Ms Simons, from Somerset, says she was the first Bermudian to be hired as a secretary to a hotel manager in Bermuda.

She left the hotel in 1986 but returned in 2002 and became regional HR director two years later.

The 58-year-old says that back in the 1970s the hotel was completely self sufficient, housing a fresh flower shop, an upholstery shop, seamstresses and teams of carpenters, plumbers and other tradesmen.

"You could live here for a week and never have to go outside," she said. The four-star hotel opened with 600 rooms but now has 593 — the missing seven having been transformed into a lounge on the exclusive Fairmont Gold sixth floor, a "hotel within a hotel" for the richest clients.

Millions of dollars have been spent on renovations over the years and the hotel now features a state-of-the-art spa, though the footprint of the site remains the same as in 1972, when then-Governor Lord Martonmere performed the official opening.

The Southampton Princess was the brainchild of American businessman and shipping magnate Daniel K. Ludwig, who also owned its sister property, the Princess Hotel in Hamilton.

Canadian Pacific Hotels bought both properties in 1998 and took over Fairmont Hotels and Resorts the following year. The hotels were then renamed the Fairmont Southampton and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

In September 2003, the Fairmont Southampton was damaged by Hurricane Fabian and closed for renovations until April 2004.