Coming Attractions

One of Bermuda's most visible real-estate developments has occurred within two separate plots of land in Paget Parish. The venue involves a "marriage" between a once-lackluster hotel, formerly known as Newstead, and one of the island's most appealing golf courses, Belmont Hills. The resulting entity is known as The Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa, 27 Harbour Rd., Paget Parish (tel. 441/236-5367; fax 441/236-2296; www.newsteadbelmonthills.com). Though separated by a drive of at least 10 minutes, they were united in 2003, and immediately began the process of reinvention.

The resulting resort includes a radically reconfigured par-70 golf course, The Belmont Hills, which was up and open for business in 2005, at least 2 years in advance of the rest of the now-unified whole. Accommodations associated with this course are expected to be operational in 2008. Everything is expected to be plush and intimate. With a total of 104 units, that means posh, boutiquey, and stylish, but in a tastefully understated way that evokes the genuine conservatism of Bermuda. Think of it as a miniature and vastly more intimate version of the Fairmont Southampton, which is also dependent for part of its allure on its golf course.

Don't expect a conventional hotel. Investors buy a one-sixth ("fractional") interest in one of the resort's available accommodations, in return for which they're granted access to that unit for 8 weeks per year. Those weeks are scattered strategically on a rotating basis throughout the year (2 weeks per season). Whenever the investors don't want access to their units, the resort's management will rent it out to short-term renters. Hotel guests can opt for studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. These lie within a low-rise compound of buildings close to the sea, but within a 10-minute drive of the golf course.

Also on-site will be a full-service spa, a gym, a pool, a restaurant and bar, and water taxi service that makes several runs a day across the Sound to the commercial center of Hamilton.

The End of an Era at Castle Harbour -- The grand old Castle Harbour hotel opened in 1958 and became the most famous hotel in Bermuda -- a position it held until 2004, when it was demolished. Rising in its place and to be completed some time during summer 2008 is the luxurious Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa, 20 Tucker's Point Club Dr., St. George's Parish (tel. 441/298-6900; fax 441/298-6901; www.tuckerspoint.com), with some 100 rooms and suites. The builders are investing an astonishing $800,000 into each unit, which will be among the most expensive hotel rentals on island when they finally open to the public. Forty percent of these units will be suites. On-site and also under construction is The Harbour Court Complex, a compound of "buyable residences."

Sprawled over 200 acres of verdant and rolling countryside in one of the most isolated regions of the island, this is the first major resort development on the island in more than 30 years. It's the brainchild of descendents of Juan Tripp, the former president of Pan American Airways who figured so prominently (and with such panache) in Martin Scorcese's film The Aviator.

Problems with the Bermudian government and with local construction teams have caused long delays between the openings of the various components of this major new resort. At press time, the resort floated in a "gray zone," whereby some but not all of its components were still being developed.

The parts in full operation include The Tucker Point Golf, Beach, and Tennis Club, which features a championship 18-hole golf course. Any investor in the Tucker's Point residential community is an automatic member of this club and can use the facilities for free. Guests of other upscale hotels on Bermuda (the Princess Properties, Elbow Beach among them) can play for a fee if they're pre-recommended by their hotel's concierge. Otherwise, the Tucker Point Golf, Beach, and Tennis Club is private. Some but not all of the residential communities associated with Tucker's Point are open and being sold and occupied.

Hotel Boom -- In addition to other hotels previewed in this section, there are still more developments to come. Long an eyesore at St. George's, the long-closed Club Med has found a developer. The old building has been demolished and will blossom into a completely new resort, with a famous golf pro designing a new course. Stay tuned.

With other hotel plans in the development stage, it's predicted that Bermuda will grow from almost 6,500 rooms at press time to 7,500 rooms by 2008. When the former U.S. Navy Base at Morgan's Point is developed, Bermuda may boast 10,000 hotel rooms, something once thought "unbelievable."

Dubai Invades Bermuda -- A fast-growing Dubai-based luxury hotel group (www.jumeirah.com) is invading Bermuda, constructing the Jumeirah Southlands Resort, set to open in summer 2008. The group also owns the Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel. The Bermuda resort is rising from 37 acres of grounds on the south shore. When operational, it will have 300 spacious balcony suites, including 17 two-story units built into beach cliffs. About half of the units will be offered for vacation residence ownership. Also under development are five restaurants and bars, a nightclub, a spa (on more than 1,700 ft. of beachfront), numerous pools, and even an equestrian center. The resort is a 15-minute ride from the City of Hamilton and a 30-minute taxi ride from the airport.