Fostering new hotel development is key to on-Island product enhancement and the future looks bright in this area for the Island.

So bright, in fact, that Bermuda may have a trio of top hotel companies operating on the Island in addition to the prestigious operators already here.

The message came last week from Tourism Minister David Allen, the day after the Bermuda Land Development Company announced that a long-awaited eco-tourism resort in the West End had got the go ahead.

Mr. Allen revealed that Destination Village's plans for the former Canadian Naval Base were not moving ahead at all at the time of the General Election last November.

"Now they are moving ahead,'' he said. "We wanted to make sure that the venture capital for this project did not move to another jurisdiction which it would have done if we had not assured them that the project was moving ahead.'' This resort should open next year and was seen as being very important to the Island.

Similarly, he continued, Government was in heavy negotiations with Atlanta-based Camberley Hotel Company who wishes to take over the former Club Med Hotel in the East End.

"I am confident that the project is moving along and nearing the point of being consummated.

"We are still aiming to have this project open next year but I cannot say it's a done deal, not now, but I am hoping that in short order it will be.'' Other projects in the pipeline include Bermuda Property Limited's development of Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort and TG International Investments and Dawnay Day Hotels joint plan for a new hotel at the site of the Par-La-Ville car park.

"These are all moving ahead,'' confirmed Mr. Allen. "They are all part of our plan for on-Island product development.'' He revealed that he and Premier Jennifer Smith had met with the prospective investors behind the Castle Harbour project in New York in January.

And looking at deVille Hotel Limited's plans for Par-La-Ville, Mr. Allen revealed that meetings between the involved parties and Government had been held less than a fortnight ago.

"Things are moving ahead. They are getting their financial ducks in a row and talking to two companies about managing the property. Both are top hotel management firms.'' On this subject, Mr. Allen noted: "It looks like we may have three of the top new hotel companies in Bermuda in two years.

"They are all in the five star range and this will do more for Bermuda than anything else.'' The marketing muscle and market presence these companies enjoyed would help boost Bermuda's presence in the same fashion Raphael and Canadian Pacific had done when they took over the Elbow Beach Hotel and the Princess Hotels respectively, he said.

Raphael were planning to put in townhouses at Belmont -- when the property was finally purchased -- and establish villas at the Elbow Beach Hotel.

"This will be like the Country has reinvented itself in terms of tourism. It will be awesome.'' Down the road is the possibility of another hotel at the Morgan's Point.

Mr. Allen said this situation depended on the players getting their finances in order but added: "I have no doubt that that project will move ahead. We are trying to get the best possible deal for Bermuda.'' Another challenge that the development at the former Naval Annex presented, he continued, was the combination of residential, tourism and recreational aspects.

"This is a complex formula. There are a lot of issues involved.'' These involve policies of tourism, immigration and land ownership, he said.

The tourism market was screaming for a variety of accommodation and Bermuda had to supply this while it "preserved the birthrights of Bermudians''.

And this included Bermudian employment and investment.

Properties looking to incorporate villas, townhouses and condominiums would be strenuously encouraged to keep their standards of service at the highest possible level thereby maintaining employment levels and in some cases increasing it.

"We have to be careful that things like twice-a-week maid service do not creep in.''