The most famous member of the Dill family, film star Michael Douglas, will attend the official opening of Ariel Sands Beach Club's new meeting centre and spa, it was revealed yesterday.

The South Shore Road cottage colony's $5 million upgrade was headed by Mr.

Douglas.

Also driving the project were his mother Diana Darrid, brother Joel, family members Elaine and Keith Wold who offered the inspiration and commissioned the offshore statue of Ariel, and artist Seward Johnson who sculpted the statue.

Directors of the property have slated an invite-only cocktail reception for Friday, April 25.

At the reception, Ariel Sands director and president Nicholas Dill, Tourism Minister David Dodwell and Mr. Douglas will make a brief presentation.

The 50-room Devonshire property has added an 800-square-foot meeting centre with technological and communications gear needed by today's business traveller, Ariel Sands said.

The new fitness centre/spa features massages -- on the beach if desired, facials, manicures, pedicures, hydrotherapy and the latest in exercise equipment.

About two years ago, the family decided to rejuvenate the property.

Ariel Sands appeared along the South Shore in the 1950s on a 14-acre parcel of once prime picnic land ravaged by cedar tree blight and storm.

Now, "the place with the statue in the sea,'' looks to position itself as one of Bermuda's premier properties for business travellers.

As the hotel is a member of the Bermuda Collection, guests have the option of a "dine around'' programme with the collection's other properties, the Reefs, Cambridge Beaches, Lantana, Pompano and Stonington Beach. Owners said this programme was well suited for the business traveller looking for variety without resorting to the "hit and miss'' method.

"The property has come a long way since the Dill family decided to, in Sir Bayard's words, `fill in the nakedness' left by the cedar blight and the hurricane of 1948.'' To promote the property, Mr. Douglas retained Susan Magrino's New York public relations firm.

BUSINESS BUC