PHILIPPE Belhay is brimming with energy at the prospect of realising his plans for The Bellhouse Hotel.

The general manager at the hotel on the A40 between Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross said: "This is probably one the biggest projects I have been involved in.

"The new owners are very keen to invest and improve the hotel which is good news for us and we are so excited about what is going to happen here," said Philippe.

The 136-bedroom four star hotel, conference centre and leisure club was sold by De Vere at the beginning of November, 2004, to the family-owned Cairn Hotel Group of Newcastle in excess of the £16m asking price.

Other hotels and restaurants in the Cairn group include the Royal British in Princes Street, Edinburgh, and St George's Hotel in Langham Place, London.

The new owners said they want The Bellhouse to continue to be a prime venue for corporate and family events and make it a favourite destination for a meal and quiet drink in a safe and secure environment.

Philippe, formerly director of operations at the Belfry Hotel near Tamworth, the venue for four Ryder Cups, took over as general manager on September 20, last year, from Andrew Spink who left before the takeover.

The 44-year-old, who was born in France, is fluent in four languages and lists his hobbies as wine appreciation, and judo and taekwondo.

He lives with his wife and two children near Beaconsfield.

His first job on behalf of the new management was to reassure the 120 staff their jobs were safe.

Now he and his team are concentrating their efforts on the refurbishment of the hotel, built originally in 1926 on a eight-acre site, and now used mainly as a corporate venue during the week and by the leisure market at weekends.

The first area of the hotel to have a new look is the caf bar with softer furnishings and live music on Sundays at 4 pm from mid-February.

Also due to open next month is The Aquarium aimed at the 25-plus age group, dress smart/casual on Friday evenings.

The De Vere Suite conference centre will shortly be receiving an upgrade and there are plans for wireless broadband throughout the hotel and to build on 10 to 12 extra bedrooms and a covered walkway from the main reception to the conference centre (planning permission granted earlier is still valid).

In the longer term the aim is to upgrade the leisure club to a spa with the addition of treatment rooms.

"I was lucky to be hired for the Belfry and was lucky to be part of that success.

"We have chosen the hotel industry because we enjoy meeting people and looking after people.

"We love showbusiness. We are on stage and I am an ambassador for my company and my team," said Philippe.