The Princeville Resort will begin a multimillion-dollar renovation of the luxury Kaua'i resort this fall with a plan to close for seven months and reopen as The St. Regis Resort, Princeville in April 2009.

General manager Kelly Hoen said the resort will close Sept. 19 and is scheduled to reopen April 19 of next year. The hotel's 366 workers will be laid off during the renovation, but will be offered jobs when the hotel reopens. The workers late last year voted to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

"Recent economic conditions have impacted our business levels, prompting a decision to close rather than remain open," Hoen said.

She said the closing will help get the renovation done faster and get employees back to work faster.

"Our employees are very important to us and we want them to return in April 2009. We have notified the ILWU and are working closely with the union to assist associates through the transition," she said. "Although we have not entered into the negotiations for a contract with the ILWU, we intend to bargain in good faith over the contract and the terms of the temporary closure."

The Kaua'i property, with rooms ranging from $600 a night for a mountain/garden view room to $5,800 a night for the "Royal Suite," has an image as an exclusive get-away-from-it-all resort overlooking Hanalei Bay. The bay is perhaps best known as the location where many scenes from the classic movie "South Pacific" were filmed in 1958.

Hoen said the Princeville Resort renovation will involve a complete transformation of the 252-room hotel to include a complete redesign of guest rooms and meeting function space, renovated public areas including the lobby and swimming pool, new restaurant concepts and the addition of a on-site luxury spa.

For guests who had booked hotel reservations and catering functions that will be affected by this closure, Hoen said the hotel management staff is developing plans to move them to a sister hotel property in Hawai'i.

It will be the first hotel in Hawai'i to carry the St. Regis brand. Officials said the renovation will feature a partnership with one of the nation's top interior design and architecture firms — David Easton Inc.

Officials describe it as a complete transformation of the resort "from European sophistication to refined Island luxury" featuring Native Hawaiian woods, coral and lava rock as well as artwork, furniture and accessories that will reflect Asian influences.

Other St. Regis locations include Rome, Bora Bora, Aspen, Colo., London and New York City. St. Regis is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.