exhibition in San Francisco after wooing risk managers in North America's massive health care industry.

And while local representatives at the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) event believe the US industry was left with no doubt about the diverse capabilities of the Bermuda international insurance market, they also say Bermuda must continue to raise its profile among ASHRM members.

President of the Bermuda Insurance Management Association, Alan Cossar, saw Bermuda's participation as extremely valuable.

The executive director of captive management company Alexander Insurance Managers said: "This was the Bermuda insurance market's first year as an ASHRM exhibitor, and I certainly hope it will not be the last.

"We definitely made an impression on health care risk managers who made it very clear that they want to know more about our market. The ASHRM membership also made it clear that they look forward to welcoming us back there next year.'' USAir and the Elbow Beach Hotel were key supporters of a prize draw of a Bermuda vacation open to all who visited the Bermuda booth at the conference.

The draw was made by the president of ASHRM at a conference luncheon attended by more than 800 delegates, which gave added prominence to Bermuda's participation.

The prize included two round trip USAir tickets to Bermuda and four days at the Elbow Beach Hotel and was won by Margaret Miller, risk manager of the North Arundel Hospital group in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Mr. Cossar noted, however: "This was undoubtedly a good start, but there's a lot of work to be done. There are still healthcare risk managers who need to understand that Bermuda is interested in their business and that, because of our broad commercial insurance and reinsurance sector, there are things they will be able to do in Bermuda that they will not be able to do in other captive insurance domiciles.'' ASHRM was held for four days last week in San Francisco, attracting more than 1,600 delegates and 80 exhibitors.

Management (ASHRM) conference in San Francisco when she won a draw for vouchers for a Bermuda vacation. Ms Miller (right) is shown with (from left) Bermuda market director of information Roger Scotton, Inspector of Companies Jeremy Cox and Bermuda Insurance Management Association president Alan Cossar.