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Good Morning ladies and gentlemen.
We are very pleased to be here today to provide an update on the progress being made in the development of the St. Regis Bermuda Hotel development, here in St. George’s.
It is great to see firsthand how far along this development has evolved and to share this progress with the public. Projects like this are important to Bermuda and especially important to this community.
Once completed, this resort promises to be one of the most stunning properties on island, located on one of the most beautiful sites in Bermuda.
Bermuda will get its first casino in 2021, the Premier has pledged. David Burt said the island’s banks had been the only block to the gambling industry – for more than six years after the legislation was approved.
Bermuda Maritime Museum, Bermuda Society of Arts, and Bermuda National Gallery feature a variety of fascinating exhibits to see while you're in town. King's Wharf in Dockyard, Western Rampart and Bastions H and I, and The Keep are some of the notable landmarks to see in the area. Cruise ships can run casinos while in Bermuda ports (Credit: eTurboNews) Cruise ships will be allowed to open late-night casinos in port after Cabinet approved a plan aimed at fighting off increasing competition from rival cruise destinations. St Regis Resort Casino - Bermuda first opened on April 30, 2021.
Before I go into the details of the progress, I would just like to start by dispelling the rumours that when the hotel is completed the public will not have access to the beach or areas of the beach will not be available for the public use. That is not true. I will say this again, Gates Beach, more commonly referred to as Fort St Catherine Beach, will remain open and accessible to the public - that is stated in St. George´s Resort Act 2018.
I need to stress this point from the start so that this important message does not get lost in my update and to ensure that everyone is clear on this topic.
The public has always had access to this beach, they have it now and they will have both access to and full use of the beach when the hotel is open.
I am pleased with the sequence of the project. It is encouraging that this development is focused on the hotel first and the residential units second. The work currently being done includes the hotel, amenities, a casino and two condominium-style buildings.
Since my last update a few months ago a tremendous amount of hard work has been carried out on the final stages of piling and foundations of the three blocks of the Hotel. A lot of this work cannot be seen, as it is mainly underground, out of sight and already covered.
They are currently working on the pits of the elevators and staircases. The concrete retaining walls in the back of the hotel are finished, as well as the construction of two water tanks.
The movements of earth in different areas of the site will continue, in preparation for the arrival of the steel structure at the end of this month. This steel structure will begin to be erected in early November and we anticipate being able to have the structure of the hotel completed by April 2019.
Regarding the residential Condominium Building #1, work will start on the foundations before the end of this year and the erection of the structure is expected to start in February 2019.
With respect to the workforce here on site. There are currently 55 workers engaged in the construction, out of them there are 19 work permit holders from HOTELCO, and 36 Bermudian workers. Out of this group of local workers, 14 of them are from the St George's community and one of the current three subcontractors is ACL, a construction company from St George's, which has seven workers dedicated to the St Regis project.
On the residential side, you may recall, as was published recently that the developers made the decision not to build staff housing. Instead they chose to utilize the local rental marked as a way to offer opportunities to local home owners.
Currently, they have eight homes rented in the St George's area, lodging 22 workers. And, in the first quarter of 2019, they expect to rent seven additional homes to lodge 38 additional workers. It is important to note that these workers live in St. George’s, shop in the area stores, utilizing the services of local vendors and they are indeed part of this community.
Going forward, an increasing number of services will be demanded as the construction progresses. One good example of this is the provision of food on this site. The local grocery store Somers Supermart is currently preparing and delivering lunch for 26 people on a daily basis and will continue providing an increasing number of meals for the duration of the project.
I am happy with the progress that is being made and I am excited as this highly anticipated new hotel progresses towards completion.
This Government and the developers remain committed to progress. It is essential to our tourism product and this community and there is no doubt that this hotel will have a positive impact on Bermuda as a whole.
Unlike many tourist destinations around the world, there are no casinos in Bermuda and gambling on gaming machines is illegal. This legislation extends to cruise ships anchored in Bermuda ports too.
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In 2009, a challenge to allow it was turned down by the Bermuda Parliament. Casino-style gambling machines that were once popular in bars and pubs have even been outlawed since 2004. Betting however, is permitted on bingo, raffles, horse and dog races as well as British and American football.
In March 2010, the Bermuda government released a report assessing the possibility of introducing gambling on a small scale. It argued that taxes on gambling would generate revenues and boost tourism. But in May 2010, a survey conducted by a Bermudian research company revealed that almost half of residents (49%) were not in favour of legalising gambling. Still, 47% agreed that introducing casinos would improve tourism.
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At the moment and until the government decides to push forward a new legislation, gambling is not allowed in cruise ships while docked in Bermuda which means that casinos must be closed for the duration of the stay. On-board shows and entertainment also have to be shut down by law unless these are provided by Bermudians. It is a way for Bermuda to encourage cruise tourists to spend money in Bermuda and not only in the ships. Since June 2008, there is the possibility for ships to run night casinos but only on the conditions that cruise lines engage heavily in Bermuda events and activities.
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It seems that visitors are not really wanting casinos to be introduced in Bermuda either. A recent exit survey by the Bermuda Tourism Department shows that 50% of visitors would definitely not go to a casino in Bermuda, while only 11% would go. More significantly, 60% of visitors surveyed believed that casino gambling would make the Island less attractive. Indeed, Bermuda has managed to stay unique and different from all the close-by Caribbean tourist destinations and the absence of gambling has no doubt played a part in this.
The time when gambling will appear in Bermuda is probably a long way ahead and even if it ever happens, it’ll probably be small-scale. For those who come to Bermuda by cruise, on-board casinos are open to and from the Island.
Why not dedicate all your time on the Island to discover its beautiful beaches, learn about its history, meet the friendly locals and take in the wonderful landscapes.
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