Columbia Beachotel in Pissouri Bay, Cyprus, has closed for a $10m (£5.4m, €7.6m) revamp which will upgrade the hotel to a four-star facility.

Local architects Vakis Associates and Thesis Interiors have been commissioned to undertake the project, which is expected to be completed by July 2005.

Vakis and Thesis have previously worked on the Beachotel’s sister project in Pissouri Bay, the five-star Columbia Beach Resort, and have been asked to mirror some of its distinctive features to soften the design of the Beachotel.

The refurbishment will reduce the hotel’s room count by 10 to 120 and its restaurant and bar will be completely redeveloped, while the outside pool area will also be restyled to increase the Cypriot influence on the design.

Detlef Winter, general manager of Beachotel, said: “We will upgrading the hotel without alienating the many guests – our core market – who have been visiting for years.

“Guests will still get the view across Pissouri Bay while enjoying increased comfort of the design and larger rooms provided by Vakis Associates.”

Beachotel is owned and operated by Columbia Hotels and Resorts, which also operates the five-star Beach Resort in Pissouri Bay.