A tourism chief is still optimistic that an African American conference scheduled to take place on the Island next month will be a resounding success.

And Director of Tourism Gary Phillips believes that the Government's $100,000 investment in the World Conference of Mayors has been money well spent -- despite the fact that just 35 American mayors have made reservations to come to the Island for the week-long conference, which kicks off on November 15.

When Bermuda was first selected to host the event earlier this year it was hoped that up to 1,500 visitors would take part.

Last night Mr. Phillips said the Department of Tourism had done all it could to promote the conference, despite difficulties with event promoter Bonnie Marshall, who is threatening to sue the department for breach of contract.

But he conceded that the Government's own marketing campaign would have been more effective had it been launched earlier. The campaign was delayed after Bonnie Marshall's company, the Afro American Global Trade and Tourism Council, repeatedly failed to come up with its own strategy, forcing the Government to step in at the eleventh hour.

Mr. Phillips revealed that the conference will receive high profile coverage in various upmarket US publications, including Black Enterprise and Black Meetings and Incentives.

And he insisted Government was in no way responsible for the disappointing number of bookings received so far.

"Once the plan that we had asked to produce by and for the World Conference of Mayors had been approved we were immediately in the market.

"We would have all hoped that the plan that we first requested would have been provided back in May and, had that been the case, we would have been in the market a lot sooner.

"Nobody likes to be this late but it was the best we could do under the circumstances and it is an excellent plan that has been approved by the World Conference of Mayors -- it's the right campaign and it's hitting the right organisations and it's totally integrated -- I think we are going to see a rush of late bookings.

"Had the plan that we were expecting been produced, even at the latest stage when we had to sever our relationship, we still would have been able to hit the market a lot earlier.

"But I still think this is an excellent event and, where we might lack numbers we will see some quality people who will be able to make not just business contacts but also have a number of discussions about social and financial issues and trade arrangements that can be put forward between Bermuda and the US.''