The InterContinental Regency Bahrain, one of Bahrain's oldest landmarks, will close for at least nine months for renovations, a top official of the hotel said.

“The multi-million-dollar renovation will take at least until the end of the year and the hotel will reopen "early next year,” sales and marketing director Cyril Mouawad was quoted as saying in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News (GDN).

It will close early next month for a total revamp of its 321 rooms and suites, plus other public areas.

"There will be an exciting multi-million-dollar renovation," said Mouawad. "We are currently in the process of finalising details, but I can confirm that the hotel will close early April and is expected to re-open early 2011."

The GDN reported in December 2008 the hotel was being shut from the middle of May last year, with a view to reopening at the end of last December.

Officials announced later that the renovation would be carried out without closing down the property.

"The renovation work was then postponed, but will now go ahead," said Mouawad.

"This closure will not affect the new wing of the hotel, which has a health club and other facilities, because they have their own independent access."

He said the renovated hotel would feature state-of-the-art rooms and suites, as well as meetings and events facilities and new food and beverage outlets.

"These will include a steak house, Lebanese and Italian restaurants and a sophisticated entertainment venue," said Mouawad.

"There will also be considerable investment in upgrading the technical infrastructure, in keeping with the requirements of the sophisticated clientele who frequent the hotel and in compliance with fast-changing environmental requirements."

Mouawad said a new-technology airconditioning system would be installed, which was expected to result in a 35 per cent energy saving.

"We are going ahead to create a world class and modern hotel for our customers to enjoy," he said.

General manager James McDonald said that when the original renovation plans were announced in 2001, the property had been "overtaken by technology" since opening in 1981.

He said the renovation would include the hotel's rooms and public areas and disclosed there would be considerable investment in upgrading the technical infrastructure. – TradeArabia News Service