A developer of the Southlands property has denied claims the resort would need 1,200 to 1,500 staff.

Craig Christensen categorically denied the numbers quoted on the website of the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST).

BEST published figures, which claim the hotel resort will need between 1,200 and 1,500 staff in order to operate at a five-star hotel level.

However, Mr. Christensen said: "Once again they got it wrong. We will need 500 full-time staff for the property and I reconfirmed that yesterday with Jumeirah."

Mr. Christensen also tried to allay fears about the housing of staff necessary once the 371 room, South Shore resort was up and running.

He added: "The Nelson Hunt Quarry Staff housing is with the application and we will use up to 75 percent of it, if everyone is to be housed and we have other hotels interested in taking up some of the space. Staff housing is for Bermudians too."

Stuart Hayward, Chairman of BEST, had said the ratio of guest and staff was based on numbers from other hotels already on the island in particular the Reefs, which he said is a five-star hotel.

He claimed the Reefs had 300 staff for 160 guests, a ratio of 1.88, and the Fairmont Southampton Princess had 600 staff for 2,372 guests, a ratio of 0.25.

Mr. Hayward contends a two to one ratio of staff to guests must be maintained for it to be five-star hotel resort as is the ratio for guests and staff at the Reefs.

However, Frank Stocek, President of the Bermuda Hotel Association, denied the ratio for a five-star hotel would be two staff per guest.

He said: "Generally in a five-star hotel there is one to two staff per room. The number the Southlands' developers have quoted are quite realistic.

"However, the number depends on what they offer to their guests. If they have Spas, they are very labour intensive, but as long as their Information Technology and the operational structure is well organised, the numbers are normal."