percent complete by next summer.

Daniel's Head Village is to shut its doors next month to allow for the finishing and enhancing of facilities around the West End site.

It will have a grand re-opening in April, when all 115 eco-tents will be open, and other resort services and attractions available.

General manager Richard Quinn said bookings taken for the closure period were either being re-arranged or directed to other Island properties.

"We are trying now to complete it, there is a need to add that Bermuda character to a number of the present buildings,'' he said.

"And we need the craft village to be up and running.'' The winter period will allow the completion of the tented cottages and for existing landscaping.

A small conference centre and craft room will allow for local artists to show their work, and environmentally-orientated classes, entertainment and seminars.

"The work would have inconvenienced the guests,'' he said.

Since its soft opening in August, around 300 guests have stayed at the village, in tented cottages on land and over the water.

He added that the time period would now allow all the finishing touches to be applied to the site, the former Canadian forces base.

And he said it was too early to tell what bookings would be like next summer, adding that feedback from the first visitors had been positive. "There has been great interest in the village and we are pleased to have the next few months to develop the resort to its full potential and to maximise the experience for our future guests.'' On its opening in August, at least two of the 55 completed cottages were occupied. However, some work was still going on at the site on other units, and the resort was in a race against time to open its restaurant.