Bermuda's recent presence at the US Open could generate a new stream of tennis tourism for the Island.

Both tennis chief David Lambert and Cleon Scotland of the Department of Tourism have hailed the success of Bermuda's promotional booth at the The Tennis Show and they expect to start seeing the results of this venture very soon.

"We had a very good turn-out. It was very well attended. Quite a few college coaches, club reps and tennis pros stopped by. A lot of them are interested in negotiating different packages to suit their groups' particular needs.

"The main target was to entice the tennis-playing public to come here from November to March when the weather is still very mild compared to winter up north. It's a good temperature for tennis and quite a few people were interested," said Lambert, president of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA).

Scotland, the Department's Sport Promotion Manager, said visitors to the three-day showcase for the tennis industry at the USTA National Tennis Center in New York also expressed interest in watching international tennis here.

"What surprised me was that a lot of them were interested in coming to the XL Capital Bermuda Open to spectate and have a vacation as opposed to coming to play tennis," said Scotland.

Given this prospect, he will be meeting with tennis and tournament officials to examine options for further promoting that Challenger event, including creating special travel packages.

"There is a new magazine that just came up - the New England Tennis magazine - and we may use that as a vehicle to promote a package for people to come to the XL Open," he said.

While at the promotional fair, Bermuda also cashed in on an opportunity for more exposure at the upcoming New York City Corporate Tennis Challenge (September 20-21). Brochures and other "goodies" from the Island will be given away at this event for companies in the tri-state area.

"Between 30 and 40 corporations participate in the two-day doubles tournament at the USTA Center.

"This is a good marriage between sports and business, particularly with our economy in Bermuda. We may look at doing something more at this event next year and it would be great if we can do something along this line in Bermuda," noted Scotland, who will attend the corporate competition.

Both he and Lambert said The Tennis Show is something Bermuda should definitely pursue again and they are already considering ways to enhance the Island's profile next year.

Scotland revealed that he encountered some pros and coaches who take their clubs and colleges to the same destinations annually "just because they go every year as a ritual". Now, they have Bermuda as an alternative and the Island must capitalise on this initial in-road, he stressed.

One other piece of publicity the Island will receive from being at The Tennis Show is a priceless plug on television. A crew for the Tennis Channel visited the booth and chatted with Lambert.