attracting more corporate meetings to the Island, a Tourism official said yesterday.

The Department of Tourism has teamed up with Bermuda's five largest hotels to target 15,000 American corporations, assistant director Mr. Peter Smith told The Royal Gazette .

The $150,000 campaign is to include direct mail, inserts in Successful Meetings magazine, and follow-up communication by the hotels, Mr. Smith said.

Government and the five hotels are to split the cost.

Mr. Smith said Bermuda's arrival figures "will grow this winter,'' but he would not predict percentage increases. As for the new programme, "we should see immediate results,'' he said. "This is book Bermuda now.'' Unlike conventions, the corporate meeting market involves companies that wish to hold a business meeting away from domestic distractions. The size of the groups range from about 20 to 100.

And while conventions were planned months or years in advance, corporate meetings usually were not.

"It's a huge market,'' Mr. Smith said. Only two hours away from New York, "Bermuda has an enormous attraction for these people.'' The hotels involved have come up with "attractive prices and additional benefits,'' he said.

There would be two mailings, one in late September, and one in late October, he said. The inserts in the magazine would appear at about the same time.

The two Princess properties, Elbow Beach, Sonesta, and Marriott's Castle Harbour were taking part.

The hotels will also be participating in the temperature guarantee programme begun last year to encourage more bookings between November and March.

Mr. Smith said the marketing programme had encouraged airlines serving Bermuda. It appeared the Island would have slightly better connections this winter than last, he said.

Year-round Delta service to Atlanta and Boston would continue, as would USAir Service out of Philadelphia, Mr. Smith said.

It appeared that Continental service would continue year-round from Newark, and Air Canada would continue daily service to Toronto, rather than cutting back to six days a week, as normal.

And after terminating recently, Saturday Air Canada service to Halifax would resume on October 30, he said. The Halifax flight originates in London.

American Airlines would continue its early-morning New York flight out of Bermuda year-round. The other daily flight would stop on December 18 and resume on March 27, he said.

USAir service to New York would end on January 4 and resume on March 2. USAir would end Baltimore and Boston service on October 31 and resume both flights on March 2.

Northwest service to Boston would end on December 14 and resume on March 1.

American Airlines service to Raleigh/Durham would end on December 2 and resume on April 3.

Compared to last winter, service should be "a little better,'' Mr. Smith said. "New York should have some additional service. Air Canada looks like it's having more service out of Canada.'' Bermuda had shown it was serious about attracting more winter bookings, and that was one reason the airlines were staying on, he said.