The Bermuda Hotel Association is backing controversial plans to redevelop the Fairmont Southampton resort.

In a statement, the association said that the redevelopment is vital to increase air visitor arrivals to the island.

Stephen Todd, the chief executive of the BHA, said: “Increasing the overall hotel inventory in Bermuda will result in a significant increase in airlift and year-round business.

“Bermuda’s tourism economy will directly benefit from this investment with the reopening of the hotel. The BHA continues to stand behind this important project.”

Plans for the redevelopment of the resort were revealed last year while an application for a special development order adding 261 units to the property were unveiled last month.

While the renovations to the resort have been widely applauded, environmental groups have condemned the SDO application.

A BHA spokesman added that the investment will aid in the organisation’s aims of increasing the numbers of air visitors and overall national hotel occupancy, and improving the return on investment to hotel investors.

The spokesman said: “The proposed investment in the Fairmont Southampton will certainly further these goals by boosting the number of hotel beds on the island. This will, in turn, have a positive impact on tourism in Bermuda, as that of our overall economy.”

The BHA has 27 members, representing the majority of hotel beds on the island.