A team of consultants are to help Elbow Beach Resort to undertake a full employee study as it bids to improve standards.

The announcement that Benedict Associates Ltd. is to look at all aspects of human resources at the site comes after a row over the future of general manager Bill Shoaf.

And it follows the departure of former human resources director Robert Calderon from Elbow.

Tourism Minister David Allen and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox both poured scorn on reports that there had been a showdown in the Cabinet after Elbow's owners threatened to close the resort down if Mr. Shoaf's work permit was not renewed.

His permit was eventually renewed, but only for six months "under a watching brief'' which called for the manager to "act in good faith'' during that period.

Yesterday, Elbow and Benedict Associates said the human resources plan was aimed at improving service standards in line with the millions of dollars spent on the infrastructure at the hotel.

A complete review of recruitment, training, hiring and promoting is the first step.

Vaughn Mosher, managing director of Benedict Associates, said the aim was to achieve AAA Five Diamond status, following last week's announcement that the hotel had been awarded AAA Four Diamonds.

But to do so required new working practices and better guest service from all staff. The human resources audit would identify what was good and what needed improving.

New quality systems, tailored training programmes and appraisal methods will be proposed.

A second phase will look at management, with involvement in recruitment and development.

Ms Cox, talking about Elbow Beach, has said good management meant looking after employees and non-Bermudians in positions of responsibility had to be accountable to Bermuda and its people.