Troops on tourism's front line held their first joint meeting recently as they endeavour to better meet guests' needs.

Some 20 concierges from a variety of local guest properties descended on Front Street's Surf Club last week for the first-ever Concierge Forum, an event which was hosted by The Link.

Elbow Beach Hotel head concierge Bushara K. Bushara, who is the chair for The Link's Education Committee, said the event "went very well''.

The forum, which was facilitated by the Monitor Company, was designed to get the concierges networking with each other and achieved that goal, said Mr.

Bushara.

"This was the first ever get-together for concierges and they were willing to share ideas. Monitor presented some of the tools that are at the disposal of concierges including the new integrated transportation guide and the feedback was very positive.'' A presentation was also made by National Trust director Amanda Outerbridge, on behalf of Heritage Bermuda, which identified new cultural resources for concierges.

And new taxi tours were also identified in a bid to offer new visitor experiences.

The meeting was such a success, noted Mr. Bushara, that plans are already in the works for another meeting.

"Working together is in the best interests of everyone,'' he noted, "so that the guests get the benefit of all that is on offer.'' The Link is a new industry group formed, in part, to provide employees in the hospitality industry with new learning opportunities.

TOURISM TOU