If the world knew nothing more about Bermuda than its mysterious triangle and even more mysterious shorts, it certainly does now.

Bermuda’s pink sand beaches have every reason to blush as the island’s best attributes attract wall-to-wall coverage from the world’s biggest media empires thanks, for the most part, to our winning 35th America’s Cup bid.

The island’s booming hotel and tourism industry take centre stage in the likes of high-end globe-trotters’ bible Conde Nast Traveller; esteemed international business publication Forbes features an in-depth review of the Hamilton Princess and Beach Resort’s world-class art collection while the New York Post highlights Bermuda’s “big wigs” including Michael Bloomberg, Ross Perot and Michael Douglas.

The island has been voted as one of the world’s top island destinations in an editorial from leading US cable news network CNN, which also featured a film series over an entire month in the run-up to the Cup and let’s not forget our visit from the Today Show which, until earlier this year, was the US’s most watched morning show for 16 years running.

Whatever your stance on the America’s Cup being hosted here, there is no denying the millions of advertising dollars this unprecedented coverage amounts to.

Here are just a few highlights from recent weeks.

APRIL 26

Forbes:

The island’s skyrocketing hotel and tourism industry was highlighted in the coveted Forbes magazine with props given to the likes of Marcus’ of “Red Rooster Harlem renown”; the “lively” Pickled Onion, the “see-and-be-seen bar” Harry’s; the “lovely little” Rosedon Hotel; the “urban looking” Loren at Pink Beach; the Ritz Carlton Reserve “with a hint of colonial era motifs”; St Regis Resort; and the Bermudiana Beach Resort. Locals featured include artist Graham Foster, whose historical mural at the Bermuda National Museum is described as “stunning”, and “fount of knowledge” Bermudian-American Spencer Wood.

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/yachucxe

MAY 18

NBC’s Today Show:

NBC’s Today Show co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb brought the popular morning show here in the build-up to the official start of the America’s Cup. The hosts shot two one-hour shows in Bermuda.

Our top celebrity resident Michael Douglas gave the hosts a personal tour of the island, Bermudian jeweller Alexandra Mosher was featured as was the Harbour Front, where Mr Douglas dined with the hosts. “The Today show’s interest in coming to Bermuda is clear evidence of the value of the 35th America’s Cup in drawing mainstream media coverage to the island not just the traditional media that cover sailing events,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Kevin Dallas.

MAY 23

Reuters:

“Bermuda’s crystal clear waters are a far-cry from the murky south coast of England where the cup was first won in 1851 by the US schooner ‘America’ in front of Queen Victoria, who was told there is no second’ when she asked about the runner-up,” writes Reuters’ Alexander Smith.

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/ybfz3qrr

MAY 23

The New York Post:

The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club; food including Bulli.Social, the Maree at The Loren and “celebrity-helmed restaurant” Marcus’; the America’s Cup; our Zika-free status; and Bermuda’s “sophistication” were all listed as reasons to visit in a New York Post article.

“A British overseas territory, the 20 and a half square-mile island is booming this year, no doubt in part to the chichi America’s Cup yachting competition, which the pink sand-destination shelled out $77 million to host.” “Bigwigs” including Michael Bloomberg, Ross Perot and Michael Douglas all get a shout out for their association with the island.

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/yc58zvot

MAY 23

CNN:

CNN is giving the America’s Cup reams of coverage including a rundown of the AC racing rules. One article describes the competing sailors “super humans”, while champion yachtsman Sir Russell Coutts is quoted saying: “People have asked why Bermuda is such a good venue for the America’s Cup and one of the main reasons is the Great Sound. It provides a relatively smooth water venue for foiling but it also allows people watching close up a view of the racing from all around the Great Sound.”

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/y8waeblv

May 25

Conde Nast Traveller:

The leading travel magazine featured a promotional film covering ten of the best things to do in Bermuda. The film included footage of cliff jumping at Admiralty House Park; Bermuda’s forts, including Fort Scaur dating back to the 17th century; Unesco World Heritage site St George’s; Front Street, which highlighted our Gombey Dancers in their colourful regalia; and, of course, every tourist’s dream beach — Horseshoe Bay.

Full video link here: https://tinyurl.com/ya8xnz22

May 26

USA Today:

Oracle Team USA sailor Andrew Campbell was featured in USA Today after his twin babies were born in Bermuda. Highlighting the island, Mr Campbell wrote in a letter for his babies to read in the future: “We came all the way out here to win the America’s Cup. It’s the oldest trophy in international sport, every sailor’s dream.” Mr Campbell joined Oracle in 2014 during a training camp in Sydney and moved to Bermuda in April 2015. The twins were born in July.

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/y9lkq9uc

Since May 26

NBC Sports:

Dedicating more than 40 hours of coverage to the sailing spectacle. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are providing comprehensive streaming coverage. Alastair Eykyn (play-by-play) and former America’s Cup Helmsman and Volvo Ocean Race skipper Ken Read (analyst) are providing race commentary. Veteran announcer Todd Harris is anchoring NBC Sports Group’s pre-race and post-race studio coverage on-site from Bermuda’s Great Sound during the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs and the America’s Cup Match And for the second consecutive time, the channel is employing the Emmy Award-winning AC LiveLine graphics package to provide viewers “real-time on-course” information throughout the event.

May 26

Wired:

The magazine ran a piece on how Sir Ben Ainslie geared up for the Cup. The article focuses on how seriously Sir Ben takes his sailing, earning him the moniker “terminator face” by his crew mates.

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/y6w474td

May 26

BBC:

The British Broadcasting Corporation of course had to give props to the great Sir Ben Ainslie — the multiple Olympic champion Brit at the helm of Land Rover BAR. Ainslie was quoted saying: “I guess you could say the America’s Cup becomes a life obsession.” But. much to the chagrin of many a Bermudian, he seems pretty determined to take the Cup to Britain should his team take top prize. “Look at our sporting maritime heritage and it’s the one thing that’s missing,” he told the BBC. “It would be huge if we could bring the cup home.”

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/y9lp3hvl

June 1

Forbes:

John Oseid, a contributor to the magazine, offered an in-depth review of the “major art collection” at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel and Beach Club. Mr Oseid writes: “When you come back to the Hamilton Princess, look out for a beautiful Shepard Fairey print of the great Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. It hangs in front of a geometric sculptural piece on the floor called Untitled (Divina Proportione). That one is by Ai himself. By then, you’ll have come full circle with the hotel’s fine collection. And then you may just want to start all over again.”

He also recommended the “fine little institution” Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art for viewing great art.

Full article: https://tinyurl.com/ybsad9uq