media opportunity.

While over 350 travel agents were wined and dined at the Waldorf Astoria, TV and radio stations were scrambling for a piece of the action.

The demand for tickets for the events had incited the media and soon Premier Jennifer Smith and the Gombey Dancers were the hottest ticket in town.

And curiosity brought many to the event after hearing Ms Smith on a city radio show earlier in the day.

Tourism professionals were amazed that a country's leader had chosen to give a personal touch to a promotional tour -- and packed out the Astoria ballroom to hear her talk.

Yesterday morning, the Premier appeared as a special guest on the renowned Isaac Hayes talk show on KISS FM, talking about the so far successful tour of the American east coast.

Meanwhile, the Gombey Dancers were performing on the flagship NBC Today programme from the Rockerfeller Centre.

And it was revealed that a luncheon with 12 top travel media editors could bring massive coverage of the Island.

Ms Smith told The Royal Gazette that she was also to be profiled in the top selling Travel and Leisure magazine.

And there are plans for another radio talk show, the Joan Hamburg programme, to broadcast its popular WOR morning programme from Bermuda.

Minister David Allen said the summit -- at which Ms Smith was present -- with travel editors could result in articles appearing in publications that target high earning Americans.

"They are some of the most powerful and influential people in the travel media,'' said Mr. Allen. "It will be a good thing for Bermuda, it gets them thinking about stories about the Island and about sending teams to visit us.'' Present at the luncheon were bosses from Travel and Leisure, Essence, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel Agent and Travel.

In addition, there are plans for a food and wine festival, organised in conjunction with a culinary magazine. And the Minister is hoping for a resurgence in honeymoon travellers after talks with a US brides publication.

"We were able to talk to them on a one-on-one basis. We excited them about what is happening in Bermuda.'' And Mr. Allen praised his Premier for her support of the roadshow. He said: "No tourism minister ever has had so much support from a Premier for the industry.'' Marsha Miller, a 20 year travel veteran with Conde Nast Traveller, said she had never seen such euphoria over a country from cynical, savvy New York agents.

"I think Bermuda has a fantastic product, the challenge is to do a good job telling people about it,'' she said.