Hamilton Princess Begins $70 Million Renovation
The Fairmont Hamilton Princess today [Sept 17] announced it has begun work on its $70 million renovation, which they said should employ some 150 construction workers. Correia Construction will handle the marina, Somers Construction the guest room renovations and D&J was selected for the pool area and bar and grill.
This first phase of the multi-phase development entails construction of the new state-of-the-art marina, which is slated to open by summer 2014.
In addition, on November 1, the hotel is scheduled to begin work on the first phase of the main property development, which includes guest room renovations, transformation of the west side pool area, and construction of the new gazebo-style bar and grill next to the marina. The main property renovations are expected to be completed by spring of 2014 in time for the peak summer season.
The contractors chosen are Correia Construction Company Ltd. for the marina, Somers Construction Ltd. for the guest room renovations and D&J Construction Company Ltd. for the pool area and bar and grill. The hotel expects to employ 150 construction workers during phase one of the renovations.
During the renovation of its 69 guestrooms and suites, the Poinciana wing will be closed. In addition, the Bermudiana wing will close for periods when construction is at its height. The rest of The Fairmont Hamilton Princess will remain open throughout the renovation and fully operational.
Renovation plans #1, click for larger version:
“We are very excited to see this major project underway,” said Len Czarnecki, General Manager of The Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
“We appreciate the careful planning by our owners, the Green Family, to ensure a seamless renovation that doesn’t impact the guest experience. This renovation and restoration will truly transform The Fairmont Hamilton Princess into Bermuda’s premier luxury destination.”
Phase two, the details of which are currently being finalized, is scheduled to begin in Winter 2014 during the slower season.
Renovation plans #2, click for larger version:
Last year Peter Green and his sons, Alexander and Andrew Green — who are Bermudian — purchased The Fairmont Hamilton Princess from Global Hospitality Investments.
“We are proud to be bringing this back to Bermudian ownership,” Mr Green said after purchasing the property. “And I can say with confidence we are in this for the long haul.”
Good News!! It’s nice to see progress and forward thinking.
“should employ some 150 construction workers”
110 EXPAT
40 Bermudians
they said they would employ 150 construction wokers were did you get your break down of how many will be local
Take a look at the ratio of guest workers to Bermudians on the ongoing Waterloo job & you would see those figures while exaggerated are not that far off.
Bermudian workers are minority because we allow it, just remain nice ,polite and courteous and put up with it because we aint gonna do nothing about it anyway!!! LMAO
Well the talent pool only runs so deep, or are you saying the locals can do a better job and need no help from more experienced people? Based on what your stats? So the hotel should give the 70 million to second rate construction workers, just because they are bermudian and they need jobs? It doesn’t work that way any other country why here? It is what it is. You have to accept that and stop arguing something that’s not true, it’s getting old.
Are these the only construction companies in operation? Why are they getting most of the contracts?
Stop complaining !!!!
They are the large firms capable of managing large projects. There will be a many other firms that are subcontractors but don’t get the headline title on the project.
Friends and family.
Welcome to Bermuda.
aint even like dat. they are de biggest contractors on de island so why wouldn’t u pick them say ova a small *** company. stfu
Their hotel, their property. They can do with it what they damn well please. Same goes for who they hire.
Maybe they put in the best bids to get the work done
Boy oh boy! Pitts Bay is a washing machine now in storms with the backwash of waves off of sea walls. Imagine what it is going to be with the Princess wall extended as it is.
On a daily basis there are those ferrys which seem to be exempt from any wake damage liabilities.
Are these the only construction companies in operation? Why are they getting most of the contracts
Shame how the negative bloggers react to what is very positive news – indeed a sad reflection on how divisive some in our community have become.
The Hamilton Princess projects are private projects, no doubt tendered on a bid or negotiated process and not just given away in the ‘friends and family’ process that we were accustomed to seeing under the previous Government. Obviously not every contractor will be successful whatever the bid process, but as Onion has correctly pointed out the successful general contractors will be employing many different subcontractors so this is all a major plus to the construction industry – and for Bermuda as a whole.
Correia Construction? Now isn’t that interesting? So the OBA-supporting Green family have employed the supposed inept and ***** construction company of choice to build something? Could it be that the Greens chose the best in the business or are they ****** and is there is a kickback and shoddy work somewhere? Let this be a lesson to all of you who live by the media’s glaring headlines: what you think matters only to you…… the Greens are NOT stupid and wouldn’t hire anyone who couldn’t do the job.
What other BERMUDIAN choice is there? I can tell you one thing, Correa won’t be overrunning costs on this project 30% like they did with the public purse. He would likely end up in court.
Where is it written that a Bermudian company had to be chosen for this project? Isn’t part of the narrative that Correia is just one of several companies that do this kind of work and was chosen to do Heritage Wharf just because it was him? Keep up with your stories. I bet you won’t read a word from anyone who bid for this job and didn;t get it. You all can’t blackmail the Greens into submission. This is business. Just admit it, the Greens chose the best in the business in spite of the fiction you’ve all convinced yourselves is true. I know its embarrassing to see the saviours of Bermuda choosing a part of the supposed evil empire to do their work but this is proof that your libellous blogging frenzy means NOTHING when it comes down it. Deal with it.
They won’t get away with charging $20,000 a week for a crane on this job. They might have to do it properly as well.
This is not a Government contract. They bid and they won the job on price and merit.
Funny that there was so much criticism that Correia was getting work only because of an alleged friends and family plan, but now even in private business they are receiving contracts. Perhaps it is because their work is good and they put together competitive bids that result in work being awarded.
I hope people see that the narratives so expertly articulated in the last campaign were only election strategy.
Sounds like another slice of the cherry by someone with pull.
No doubt that Correia is very capable of submitting a competitive contact when necessary. The contractors will be held to the prices quoted & there will not be the mid job changes nor things like very expensive bullet resistant glass which the contractor gets a percentage of cost etc. added to this job.
Professionals are overseeing this one, not a bunch of inept amateurs.
Correa did the RBYC, RHADC and Kings Wharf. There is no other Bermudian construction company that has any experience close to that. In other words you have little to no choice other than to hire them. They also completed the majority of Waterloo House, so they already have a track record with the ownership.
Tropical storm Gabrielle brought 65 knots winds with cruise ships alongside Kings Wharf. A good thing it was recently repaired and reinforced or we could’ve had a potential disaster on our hands.
This is good news for Bermuda’s economy
Correia Construction Ltd. is very good at what they do I had the pleasure of working with them on some projects subcontracted by them.
Yeah this is great news for Bermuda n it’s economy! A Bermudian family investing in its own country, creating jobs n giving tourism a boost. Thank you Green family n all involved in enhancing our tourism product. Lets stop being so negative and give credit where it’s due.
I agree with you.
The Piles will be properly welded and inspected this time around and they will be filled “completely” with concrete. Not sand with a topping of concrete.
That’s great short time employment for the locals. But why would they spend that much money on the hotel? Will this change the attitude of people or in the long run better the economy or the pockets of the already rich? Short term solution to a long term problem.
These contractors must also provide liability for what they are offering. As an owner of a small to medium “firm”, there is NO way would I bid on a job more than what I could “potential” cover in regards to materials, products and people.
The larger firms have the jobs because they are safe. Just like the small firms they have cut back; lets hope this opens the door for local firms.
I doubt the Greens are doing this for negative purposes, the Fairmont, the place across the street and the Sonesta. They just need to get the jobs started and it will be a noticeable positive boost.
Be negative, Karma works its magic.