associate of the year by a major US regional association.

And Mr. Garth Pedro-Peters said yesterday the award should help boost the Island as a premier destination.

Mr. Pedro-Peters, southeast regional manager for the Bermuda Department of Tourism's office in Atlanta, recently received the 650-member Travel Agents of the Carolinas Inc.'s award.

"The award is an accomplishment for Bermuda, a reflection of the product and the destination, the benefit is for Bermuda,'' he said.

Mr. Pedro-Peters, after completing a two-year term on the organisation's board in 1994, was asked to serve for an additional year.

Associated with TAC for over eight years, he has also served on convention and education committees and was instrumental in bringing renowned speakers to TAC conferences, according to a release.

TAC is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and incorporated in 1975.

Its members include travel agencies located in North and South Carolina while airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, hoteliers, tour operators, tourist boards and convention and visitors bureaus make up its associate membership.

The organisation focuses on advancing the professional and economic interests of the travel industry, sharing information, promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct in the transaction of business with the public, other travel agents and suppliers, as well as acting as a consultant for the industry and promoting and developing education programmes for its membership.

TAC named Mr. Pedro-Peters as travel associate of the year at its 20th annual convention in Durham, North Carolina on January 28.

Prior to winning the award, Mr. Pedro-Peters was appointed to ASTA's (American Society of Travel Agents) new 10-member Allied Advisory Council as its tourist boards/international representative.

Though the two, the award and membership in the new council, are not directly related they are both high points for Bermuda and will serve to promote the Island, according to Mr. Pedro-Peters.

ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR -- Mr. Garth Pedro-Peters, southeast regional manager for the Bermuda Department of Tourism in Atlanta, recently garnered travel associate of the year honours from Travel Agents of the Carolinas, Inc.

president Ms Paula Lombardi Almond.