Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell has dismissed rumours that the proposed hotel on the former Club Med site has lost the St Regis brand.

Asked about reports that Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which owns the brand, had signed an exclusive agreement to work on the Par-la-Ville hotel project, Mr Crockwell said: “That is not our information.

“Clearly those negotiations are confidential between the developer and the chosen brand. The information that we have received is that St Regis will be the brand for [the St George’s] development, and we haven’t received any information to the contrary.”

Government announced last May that the developer had signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the St George’s property. In December, it was revealed that the resort would carry the St Regis brand and groundbreaking was expected to take place this May.

Mr Crockwell said at that time that the first phase of the $122 million project would include 122 rooms and eight residences, while phase two will deliver four large estate villas and 22 golf villas.

The $350 million Par-la-Ville Hotel project, meanwhile, was originally announced in 2007, with Ritz-Carlton attached. Starwood Hotels and Resorts was named as a new partner in 2009 when it was stated the hotel would open in 2013.

The proposed 137-room hotel would also include 95 luxury residences and three levels of underground parking.