Today's traveller is looking for one attribute in a destination above all others.

Service.

And the issue is clearly defined in the June edition of top tourism magazine, Travel & Leisure.

The special hotels' issue contains its hotel survey results, the response to which "broke all records'', noted editor in chief Nancy Novogrod.

Readers were asked what their idea of luxury was and topping out at 22 percent was perfect service.

This was followed by divine decor (19 percent), spacious rooms (14), quality linens (13), swank bathrooms (eight), privacy (six) and other (18).

Another question asked: "What makes you fall in love with a hotel?'' Here it was the staff who made the difference, 39 percent of the responses indicated. Atmosphere was the quality which followed with 21 percent.

Readers were also asked: "Besides the cost, what annoys you most about hotels?'' Attitude and snobby service were the top responses with 24 percent of readers highlighting them.

The subject of service -- and what hotels do to try and provide the best possible -- is identified further in a feature on the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.

Entitled Trading Places, the article illustrates the behind the scenes efforts of staff to provide the best possible service to their guests who are paying top room rates.

Writer Peter Jon Lindberg finds that the hotel endeavours to meet every guest's individual requirements to a T.

One department keeps files on anyone who has checked in since 1993 and notes their personal preferences from every angle; management carefully inspect every part of the hotel's operation through the course of each day; and the staff make special individual efforts whenever possible -- even when the time comes to make amends.

Mr. Lindberg sums up the hotel's attitude eloquently.

"Five hundred dollars a night means never being told you can't.'' And the magazine contains a further readers' poll on the world's best service.

Not a single Bermudian property makes the list of the top ten hotels with the best service in the world or even the top five with the best service in the region of the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

The top five there were the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis, Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands, Caneel Bay Resort in the US Virgin Islands, Cap Juluca in Anguilla and the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Resort.

The article does identify telling traits the providers of good service have -- while noting each have their individual quirks.

First and last impressions are key and service should be discreet and instantaneous.

It also points out: "Every crisis is an opportunity for a hotel to shine -- if employees are skilled and motivated enough to rise to the occasion.'' TOURISM TOU