Service Bureaux.

Chamber executive vice president Ms Carolyn Mello said the restructuring was being taken after careful research.

"It is our goal to maximise the service provided by the Visitor Service Bureaux both to our visitors and our members and, at the same time, minimise its cost of operation,'' she said, in a letter to Chamber members.

"Over the last five years, the Chamber has realised significant financial losses due to the rising cost of operating various VSB information desks around the Island.

"In an effort to streamline the operation, we will be changing the hours of operation.

"The new schedule will not seriously affect the services we offer to our visitors because we will continue to operate during the peak traffic periods.

"For those few visitors who may wander by a closed desk during off-peak periods, there will always be notification of a telephone number that can be called for any assistance or information that is not available.'' Miss Mello said the quality of service offered to Bermuda's visitors would be improved through; additional staff training in customer relations; a dedicated space in Hamilton for the sale of tours and excursions; the facility to sell tours and excursions at all VSB desks; a fax machine at both the St. George's and Hamilton sites for customers to use, and; the creation of a Visitor Service Bureau brochure advertising the Chamber's services to cruise passengers and hotel guests.

Miss Mello added: "In an attempt to measure customer satisfaction, we will carry out random consumer surveys and introduce a suggestion box system for visitors and members to participate in.

"We welcome feedback from members and any suggestions they may have which will improve our services.'' Miss Mello said that two staff at the Airport Visitor Service Bureau were being laid off for three months as a result of the changes.

The new winter hours (from November 1 to March 31) for Visitor Service Bureaux are -- Dockyard, 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sun-Fri; St. George's, 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mon-Sat; Hamilton, 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mon-Fri; Airport, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Sun. The Somerset bureau will remain closed during the winter.

The new summer hours (from April 1 to October 31) are -- Dockyard, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon-Fri; St. George's, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon-Sat; Hamilton, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon-Sat; Airport, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Sun; and Somerset, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mon-Fri.

The Airport bureau's opening hours are dependent on airline schedules and could be subject to change.