dollars.

President of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda Mr. Roger Borsink, who is also the general manager for the Marriott Castle Harbour Resort, said that his staff was in the midst of cleaning up.

He said debris, broken window and damaged balconies, were month the casualties of hurricane Felix that brushed by Bermuda on Tuesday. "The biggest issue apart from the repairs to the beaches, swimming pools and balconies is the people who have cancelled,'' Mr. Borsink told The Royal Gazette.

"Theses cancellations have cost us somewhere in the vicinity of a few hundred thousand of dollar,'' he said, "When you calculate that we have lost about 300 room nights that cost on average about $450 a night.

"We haven't got a final tally as yet but we are in the midst of contacting travel agencies and other parties to let them know what has happened and to tell them that we are getting back on our feet.'' Mr. Borsink said he had received many phone calls from American radio and television organisations in Washington and Rhode Island. they wanted to know about how Bermuda was faring now that the storm had passed.

Meantime, Pink Beach general manager Mr. W. a. (Toppy) Cowen whose Tucker's Town property suffered more than $450,000 in damages due to Hurricane Felix, said his staff was doing everything possible to get things back together again.

Bermuda Hotels Association President Mr. Stephen Barker said staff were back to work at all BHA properties and operations were returning to normal.

"The South Shore property damage,'' he explained. "The beaches were especially hard hit. Fortunately the weather is now co-operating and our guests are now beginning to experience the Bermuda they came to visit.'' Mr. Barker said that many of the visitors who had cancelled had re-booked for a different date.

However there were many of others who did not have this flexibility.

He said his staff were encouraging these guest to make a booking for next year instead.

"Not everybody can change the vacation they had scheduled,'' he continued.

"For those who have cancelled or left early we are just trying to get them to come back later or next year.'' Mr. Barker said his own properties -- The Hamilton Princess and the Southampton Princess had minimal damage.

Mr. Roger Borsink