Green Family Buy Former Sonesta Property

March 18, 2013

The Green Family announced that, effective today [Mar 18], they have purchased the Southampton Beach Resort [formerly Sonesta Beach Hotel] from a U.S.-based financial institution.

The Family intends to now review and analyse the previous plans for the South Shore site, as developed by Southampton Beach Resort, and will in due course meet with Government, planning and relevant stakeholders to consider the best product for the site, and for Bermuda. That process is already underway, but may take some time to complete.

Aerial view of the property:

20130311 South Beaches Aerial

Andrew Green on behalf of the family says: “We understand that there may be interest in our plans for the land, and particularly given our ownership of The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, however it is important that we now take some time to consider all the appropriate options.

“For now our main focus continues to be planning for The Fairmont Hamilton Princess upgrade and, when that is complete, we will work to see how we can best utilise the former Sonesta property.”

In September 2012, Peter Green and his sons, Alexander and Andrew Green, purchased The Fairmont Hamilton Princess from Global Hospitality Investments [GHI].

Alexander and Andrew Green:

The Green family — who are Bermudian — have a history of owning hotels. From 2004-11, they had a 25 per cent stake in the Maybourne Group, which owns The Berkeley, Claridge’s and The Connaught.

They also own Overbay and the Waterloo House development of luxury commercial and residential accommodations on Pitt’s Bay Road.

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Comments (74)

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  1. Orbit says:

    Do they have any sisters?!

  2. kat says:

    Were are they getting all this money. —–

    • Bermyluv says:

      I’ve heard that their maternal grandmother was at one point the richest woman in the UK prior to QEII’s coronation.

    • Argosy says:

      ….off the money tree, Kat. Not the same one that the Cog planted, mind you!!

    • Good investment says:

      The family has a net worth over a billion. This is a great investment and it’s so refreshing to see them give back to the island. Hotels today, schools tomorrow….that would be nice

    • James s says:

      Google Peter Green and you will find out. 50th richest in Britain I think.

    • I dont really think it matters where they are getting the money from and I would think you would be more ready to support such a venture,if Bermuda is to benefit from this investment.

      Also for the nay sayers,Bermuda does have a tourism product.we just need to capatalize on it and build on its natural resources which is a gateway to many creative ideas.

      It would be good to another hotel developement in that location but I hope they do not have any intentions of doing a time share or conco developement.

      Kat the money as long as it is legal and above the table is all that matters,now hopefully we dont see the government doing anything extra special,after all it still needs to go through developental process and approval.

      It would also be good to get an update on morgans point and where that stands at present and the O.B.A needs to leave that guy alone with the St.Georges hotel,get another developer and they need to update us as to if we got the golf course taken out of the deal moving forward.

  3. Common Sense says:

    This is really excellent news and the best we have heard for some years for our tourism industry. We have a Bermudian family showing faith in our economy and who are willing to invest in our Island. We should wish them every success in there endeavours and make sure that both the Government and the Opposition, and we the people, are fully supportive of their efforts.

    • ggurl says:

      I agree

    • Toast says:

      I agree, great to see a family with roots here in Bermuda re-investinting in Bermuda. Afterall, if we don’t believe in ourselves, why should anyone else!

      I will be making a point of having lunch, dinner or cocktails at Fairmont Hamilton (the Green Families other recent purchase)a little more often as my way of saying thanks.

      • James s says:

        He still came here as an expat though and the expat haters seem to be quiet about this one. I guess you can choose which expats to dislike.

        • Eyes Wide Open says:

          Every single Bermudian’s ancestors came here as an expat, unless you originate from hogs. No room for haters here.

          • Serious Though says:

            even Hogs were brought here by Spanish..

    • Former Sonesta Employee says:

      WONDER IF THEY WILL BRING BACK THE WATER PARK? THAT WAS AWESOME, BERMUDIANS AND TOURSIT LOVED IT!

  4. here's a thought.... says:

    delighted to read this. i’m sure the usual naysayers like rolfe, laverne and that idiot chris furbert will spout off with some negative rhetoric, but i for one am thrilled that an eye is being turned to reinvigorate our tourism industry FOR REAL finally.

    • SoMuchMore says:

      here’s a thought, please don’t bring up those people… you know the saying, mention the devil and he will appear.

      this is good news and you know neither of them like stuff like this and would want to put so form of negativity into this positive story.

      see people are investing in Bermuda. lets keep it this way and like I said yesterday, lets ship people like Chris Furbert and Laverne who cause nothing but trouble off to Sri Lanka. Bermuda would really be miles ahead too seeing light.

      to the Greene family, well done and thank you.

      • Family Man says:

        Too late. Like a bad apple, she’s here already.

      • Webster says:

        Bermuda, this is fantastic news about the sale of Sonesta ,but we can be assured that we will get negative reports from so mentioned in your post.

      • drunken ursula says:

        let”s take Pat the mouth from Warwick with them…..

    • LaVerne Furbert says:

      Why would you be anymore delighted than I, Rolfe and the BIU President? I think all of Bermuda should be delighted at this news.

      • SoMuchMore says:

        cause all you and your clan do is pull this island down.

        we all know that your party is not in and you it bugs the pits out of you all.

        lavern, i would like you and your clan to put politics aside and focus on getting this island back on track.

      • Billy Mays says:

        Shut up Laverne. Your opinion is not wanted. Just go away.

        • Clive Spate says:

          I don’t usually find anything agreeable about Laverne’s comments but she has every right to make them.

          It’s up to me whether I choose to take offence, let alone bother reading them.

  5. Victor says:

    Real Bermudians investing both their faith and money in the future of their homeland – keep up the good work guys, we are all cheering for you.

    p.s. Perhaps if you could hang a few of those Warhols in te Hamilton Princess, you could charge a couple hundred more per room.

  6. 32n64w says:

    Congratulations to Peter, Alex and Andrew. I’m sure this will prove to be another great success.

  7. watch de rock white boi says:

    WOW great to see some — guys buying up prime realestate…Laverne and Rolf along with Chris is gonna find something to say…congrats to the greens

  8. Truth (Original) says:

    I am encouraged by the Green family’s show of faith. I can’t wait to support !

  9. street wise says:

    Hopefully the Green Family’s support of Bermuda tourism with their huge investment in two properties in their home Country, the Hamilton Princess and the Sonesta Beach land, will spur more foreign investment in hotel building here. Wish I had that kind of money… maybe in my next lifetime…. :-)

  10. that´s a PEICE OF HISTORY ;THANKS says:

    ok boys let get started oh and congratulation ,,

  11. Bermudian says:

    This is such a positive and refreshing article unlike others of late. THANK YOU to the Green family for investing in your home and your people!

  12. Pilot001 says:

    @here’s a thought,SoMuchMore why do you have so much hatred towards people. smh.

    • SoMuchMore says:

      there is no hatred, damn if i have hatred what do you call Lavern and crew?

      i for one am delighted… i just dont like people pulling down the island and speaking negative and we know why many people do this.

      have i answered your question?

  13. Dave says:

    Thank you to the Green family! Fantastic to see some positive investment in Bermuda! Congats!!!!!!

  14. Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

    that entire check should go no where else but be put directly on to OUR DEBT…that should take a nice bite out of what we owe…I HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING OBA…we are not out of danger yet, but its definitely a Godsend.
    Many thanks and good wishes in the future for the BERMUDIAN Green Family…hopefully this may inspire a few other very capable Bermudians of investing here in their Homeland…all we need now is the assisstance of the other “Green” family to put us back on top
    Mari Juan and Ana…lol

    • The Truth! says:

      They did not purchase the land from government!! It was from an investment company, so how can the check go towards our debt?

    • media says:

      What check? The property wasn’t owned by Government. It was in the hands of a US firm. The only check as such would be the stamp duty if there is any on that sale. What Bermuda gets is the hope that the Greens will invest and develop the property and hire Bermudians in the process, which will end up being a multi million dollar figure.

    • Orbit says:

      Oh Mari, Juan, Ana….I used to see dem all d time. Where they at?!

    • Hudson says:

      Really? Do you live under a rock? The government doesn’t own this property!!!!!! This will help fuel our economy though and is a great thing – architects, construction, hotel workers, support services, ground transport and the trickle down effect from there. All good!

    • smh says:

      wake up!!!!!!
      they did not buy the land from bermuda or its gov’t!!!!
      hardly any of our hotels are locally owned!!!!!!!
      they money made off of hotels mainly is shipped out of here!!!

  15. Story Teller says:

    That’s a pretty picture of the island

    • Keepin' it Real...4Real! says:

      you better save that pic…that “Natural” Bermuda Beauty…won’t always be there…

      • media says:

        It is a brown site which means it has been built on before, so it might go back to something like was there before. It is not virgin land like the place in Warwick was.

  16. BDAGIRL says:

    Thank you to the Green Family. Looking forward to seeing Bermuda heading back on track. Why do you all worry about Laverne, Rolf and Chris you all give them far to much attention. If you didn’t blog about them they wouldn’t be on answering you all. HE WHO AGGREVATES YOU MASTERS YOU!!!!!

    • US Observer in Pink Sand says:

      The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.
      -Alice Walker

  17. Common Sense says:

    The negative comments about Laverne Furbert and Chris Furbert were totally uncalled for and created negativity where it was so not needed. Laverne sums it up well when she says all of Bermuda should be delighted at this news.

    • Chuckling says:

      I totally agree. I have never seen so much hatred on a consistent basis than in the blogs. It’s amazing that this much hatred is rampant on island. Smh

  18. Navin Johnson says:

    All it really took was for the PLP to get out and the capital comes in

    • Jus' Askin' says:

      Are you really that silly?
      They purchased the Fairmont and other properties prior to Dec. 17th 2012.
      Though I can not speak for the Green family, I am sure this purchase was also in the works prior to Dec. 17th 2012.
      Please do not post such BS, please!

      • The Truth! says:

        The polls showed the OBA ahead and favoured to win the election when they purchased the Princess!

      • Navin R. Johnson says:

        do you really think anyone would invest outside capital in Bermuda during the reign of the PLP? seriously people like Bazarian and Jefferies were given ridiculous deals …the Greens built Overbay in 1995…..others may have considered investing but refused to compromise their ethics….

  19. Bullseye says:

    It is a daring move and an epic property.

    Right now cash in hand is worth little and generating nothing so speculation here is worthwhile if you can afford the stakes.

    It’s a great thing for Bermuda.

  20. One voice says:

    Great Investment, probably One of the best Spots to Build a Hotel in Bermuda,
    If it wasn’t for the BIU which makes it almost impossible to run any hotel in Bermuda!

    • media says:

      Like Mr. Marriott said in his biography. His one regret in life was opening a hotel in Bermuda. I hope Bermuda can serve the Greens better than we did Marriott.

  21. In Mark's Opinion says:

    I’m so happy, that things are looking up.

  22. swing voter says:

    I hope they can build soon. then find the right people to employ

  23. SmallFish says:

    Thank You Green Family!!! Our future looks a little “Greener”.

  24. Really? says:

    “the family intends”… “make take some time…” translation: buy the land while it’s cheap… pretend that you want to develop… sell the property once the value appreciates…

  25. Red says:

    Congrats to the Green Family! Can’t wait to see the upgrades to South P. I wonder what you have in store for the old Sonesta site? Much Props!

  26. March Hare says:

    This is excellent news. I used to love that spot, water features were great. Tourism is one of the only Supply-led industries out there. We need to build, build, build. Let this be the first of many. Lets have another on South Shore, lets have a ‘destination resort’ in St George’s, along with a widening of town cut for the maga cruise ships. Carry on with the city harbour redevelopment, Re-think Daniel’s Head and make better use of that wonderful vista with its dreamy sunsets. A fantastic spot for a hotel…the list goes on.
    “if you build it, they will come” [Field of Dreams]

  27. LaVerne Furbert says:

    It is really very sad that the amount of energy and creativity that Bernews puts into this website that the comments are so petty and uncalled for. How many of you actually read the articles rather than use the comments section as an opportunity to bash people that you have never even met?

    • US Observer in Pink Sand says:

      LaVerne – I applaud you for reaching out to the people of Bermuda regarding negative comments. However, having read previous comments on this post and historical communication made by you to others and the community at large, one first should look within him/herself. Your statement is petty and uncalled for however there is this simple but powerful thing called “redemption”. If you want to make things right, I believe the people of Bermuda deserve an apology from you and others for the mishaps and misappropriations that have been brought into and onto the country prior to this recent election. LaVerne – this is an opportunity for you and other to be the bigger person and own up. If you so desire, only you and others have the power to change the percetion or even the truth.

      “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true to us.” Susan L. Taylor

  28. Fruity says:

    They need to come see me and help me out!!!

  29. Winnie Dread says:

    I hope some nice buildings go up down there, giving the construction industry a boost, I hope they won’t be Condos, I hope a nice Hotel/Casino project goes down there,I hope,I live in hope.

  30. Bermyman says:

    The Funny thing is, the Green Family in this day and age would never become Bermudian were they to immigrate here even if they were to invest at the same level. Under the PLP they would have had a term limit period! Again what people don’t understand is that by granting permanent residency and citizenship to job creators, investors and employers from outside our Island, we sow the seeds of economic benefit, financially and intellectually for the future. This is clear proof, as the Green brothers are first Generation Bermudians and bare their expat parents legacy.

    • Deliverance says:

      “LIKE” that post. Entirely TRUE! What IS it that the PLP Regime do not get? Idiots.

    • US Observer in Pink Sand says:

      Exactly!! Wow…someone ges it.

    • SoMuchMore says:

      Bermyman, well said.

  31. Get on with it says:

    Great news Green Family. Enough of the political negativity from both sides of the political party divide. No one is perfect but I hope we all can learn from our mistakes and past ignorances and move forward instead of dwelling on the past. Time to grow up. Thanks Laverne for being diplomatic. Lets pray and educate our new breed of Bermudians to be hard workers so that there is no perceived need to run a hotel by 70% foreigners and 30% Bermudians (made up figure to drive a point),and that workers are understanding that we need to big up the tourist product in Bermuda considering the bad economic times in Bermuda, considering the stiff competition abroad and considering the overall health of Bermuda.

  32. Land Lover says:

    Just thinking to myself how far we’ve come to get to where we are and how much I am saddened that our so precious and once beautiful landscape isn’t worth a dime if it’s not developed. Inevitable but yet, just so, so sad …

    High-rise buildings and concrete slabs don’t belong on the island but if we can’t do without them why not keep them in Hamilton? It’s a stone throw from one end of the island to the other, never mind Elbow & Horseshoe. Town would just be hoping night times if every mainstream tourist were there! Leave the “natural areas” for the “less” developed, more personalized solutions such as cottage colonies.

    Why do we have to destroy our coast? We lived with the Sonesta eyesore for as long as I can recall … at least 50 years. Don’t even talk about the other major dominating Southampton Hotel.We are all just so used to seeing these monstrosities that we accept them as normal; we don’t realize that they have nothing to do with their environmental setting.

    http://www.gravityshots.com/bigimages/2012-02-15_SouthBeaches_26.jpg

  33. Bobmarlin says:

    Good job OBA !