a.m. deadline today for reopening Elbow Beach Hotel.

Champagne corks are due to pop this morning to welcome the first 12 guests following the $25 million revamp -- $5 million more than planned.

Last night managing director Mr. John Jefferis was confident the race against time would be won.

He assured The Royal Gazette the main lobby and entrance hall area would be transformed dramatically overnight: "I have no doubt whatsoever we will be open on time. We are bang on schedule.'' Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge is expected to speak at today's reception.

The hotel has been undergoing a complete overhaul since it was closed on November 1.

Today will see the reopening of 100 rooms on two of the floors, said Mr.

Jefferis. Work on the other two floors will be completed by the end of the week.

And the 100 rooms in the cottage colony will be reopened by the end of this month.

"We will be setting new standards of hotel accommodation on the Island. The decor is truly world class,'' said Mr. Jefferis.

Late yesterday afternoon the main hallway, lobby, and porch were a bustling hive of activity.

Employees were working flat out in a mad dash to put the finishing touches.

Some were busy putting up chandeliers. The rooms were full of scaffolding, with covers over furniture and carpeting.

People coming up the main driveway would have gained the impression of stumbling into a building site.

A big hole was in the tarmac outside the lobby, and there were trucks and construction machinery scattered about.

Mr. Jefferis, however, said the approach to the hotel would be cleared up in time for the reopening.

"Everybody has been working extremely hard, and will be doing so throughout the night. The lobby will be transformed overnight, and will look very different in the morning.'' Mr. Craig Burgesson, who runs a paint contracting firm involved in the revamp, backed his confidence.

He said yesterday: "We are working extremely hard. Everything is a real rush, but we will make it in time.'' Mr. Jefferis highlighted the black Italian marble on the floor of the lobby and entrance hall.

The walls were made from Californian white oak, specially treated to give it a "beautiful sheen.'' Mr. Jefferis added work on the grand outside porch, with stately columns, would be "pretty well finished'' by today.

The main hotel facilities would also be open -- including the beach restaurant, Cafe Lido, and the Ondines restaurant.

"The first guests will be treated lavishly, and like royalty,'' said Mr.

Jefferis.

Although some work will be carried out during their stay, they would not be disrupted, he said. "There will be very little inconvenience,'' he stressed.

Guests at the renovated hotel can expect to pay between $270 and $1,500 for rooms and suites.

"There has been no quantum increase in prices because of the improvement,'' said Mr. Jefferis.

The revamp has been plagued by difficulties which have delayed the reopening date three times.

Problems have included bad weather, deportation of a wallpaperer, and an overtime ban by construction workers.

The hotel -- which could be enlarged by up to 150 rooms in the future -- was originally scheduled to reopen on February 29.

One of the casualties of the problems will be the traditional Easter Sunrise service at the hotel's beach club.

The Rev. Fred Marshall, from Christ Church, Warwick, said the service had been cancelled.

THE ENTRANCE to Elbow Beach yesterday.