down for the third winter in a row, said yesterday they had been expecting the closure.

But they all agreed it would be tough trying to make ends meet over the three-and-a-half-month period -- the longest winter closure in recent times.

A few said the news came as a shock even though they had heard rumours the hotel would close.

And one worker said he hoped the hotel's massive refurbishment project, taking place during the closure, would attract more guests -- "or else what good is it?'' The Royal Gazette spoke to several workers at the hotel. Some did not seem bothered at all while others were visibly upset.

"Three months is a long time to be out of a job,'' one waiter said. He added the closure announcement came as a "big shock,'' but "had heard talk it was closing''.

One of the housekeeping staff said she was also upset over the news. And despite hotel manager Mr. David Boyd's assurance that staff would get priority over outsiders for odd jobs associated with the five and half million dollar renovations, she had "not heard anything about that''.

When asked what she would do to make up for the loss of pay, she just shook her head and said, "I don't know.'' Another maid said: "I knew they were closing down. They've been doing it for three years.'' She said she would look for another job for the period and "put my trust in the good Lord''.

A bellman for 30 years said saving through the peak summer period was "the way'' to go.

"You've got to save, that's the way to do it,'' he said. "The younger ones are more concerned.'' A younger bellman said he was indeed concerned and had signed up for odd jobs within the hotel. But he said he did not think he would be getting paid as much as he makes now.

"I was expecting it,'' he said. "The last two years we've been closed. I should be okay.'' A waiter from Barbados said he was not concerned at all. "Most of us are ex-pats and just go home. I'll be going home and relaxing for the period -- it's no problem,'' he said.

"I was sort of expecting it,'' said a restaurant cashier. "Last year I wasn't prepared but this year I've started calling places already for jobs.'' And a bartender said he was glad that he at least had a job to come back to.

"It's hard in Bermuda right now. A lot of people don't have jobs,'' he said.

"I just hope this refurbishment will help us in the long run to make money.

It's fine to do all this refurbishing but what good it is it if we can't get the tourists in?''