during a luncheon at that city's Royal York Hotel on Thursday.

The trip is the second for Mr. Allen since he took over the Cabinet post on November 10.

The international efforts are designed to take advantage of the huge amount of worldwide interest created by the Progressive Labour Party's historic General Election win.

And time is of the essence.

"It brings a whole new meaning to the term shuttle democracy,'' he joked.

"There is a great deal of interest in Bermuda because of the change in Government and we want to maximise that, put a spin on it and show what it has to offer tourism. In a couple of months it will be old hat.'' Mr. Allen went to Toronto at the end of last week for a two-day whirlwind trip with Tourism Director Gary Phillips and Department of Public Relations Officer Charles Webbe.

A lot of interest was shown in the Island by the Canadian Press, he said.

"We got very buoyant feedback from the Canadians, some who I knew before as a travel writer. We briefed them on what is happening and the new Government's tourism plans.'' Mr. Allen also addressed Canadian perceptions that Bermuda was a very expensive destination -- an idea underlined by the low Canadian dollar -- by stressing the value a vacation to Bermuda offered.

Allen talks to Canadian media He also stressed that Bermuda was user friendly with a highly developed infrastructure that boosted the Island's off season.

The mild temperatures between November and March made the Island an ideal choice for Canadian visitors looking for golf and tennis, he told the Press.

While in Toronto Mr. Allen has also met with Department of Tourism staff there as he did when he was in London last weekend.

His next trip takes him to New York where more meetings with department staff are in store. A trip to Boston will follow that.

"We are gradually working our way through the key areas to Bermuda,'' he said.

While in Toronto, Mr. Allen met with members of the hotel chain which runs the Royal York Hotel -- Canadian Pacific Hotels.

CPH recently purchased the two on-Island Princess properties and Mr. Allen took advantage of his stay at their flagship property to see what the chain had to offer on its home turf.

"I am very impressed with the facilities at their flagship hotel in Toronto,'' he said.

"It speaks well of their standards of service and what they can do for product enhancement at the local Princess Hotels. I am convinced that they will do great things.''