Hoteliers stressed the importance of portraying Bermuda in a positive light as they warned of the potentially damaging consequences of strike action.Mike Winfield, CEO at Cambridge Beaches, said everyone needs to help create the best possible experience for tourists.Speaking before the end of the bus strike had been announced, Mr Winfield told The Royal Gazette: “Bermuda’s tourism industry is going through a third year of very significant challenge.“Demand for Bermuda, as with many other destinations, is substantially down and right now we are facing weak projections, generally, for the remaining months of this year.“All those deployed in tourism related activities are facing additional layoffs and reduced remuneration.“All of Bermuda needs to be focused on providing an excellent experience for each and every guest to our Island so that they will return to their homes promoting the Island.“We certainly need to ensure that any publicity coming out of Bermuda, and in this electronic age our local news becomes visible in all our markets.“Stories of industrial action, reduced services to our guests, are totally what we do not need right now.“While I am only aware of what has been reported as the facts of the various labour cases, I can only urge all those involved to use every possible means to resolve issues without action that either casts a negative light on how Bermuda is perceived as a tourism destination or diminishes the vacation experience on the Island.”Elbow Beach general manager Frank Stocek warned of the inconvenience to the whole Country when the procedures for resolving disputes are not followed.But he said people’s good will could help turn a negative into a positive, and pointed to campaigns by members of the public to provide free transport to stranded bus users.“A negative situation could be turned into quite a powerful message of how friendly and caring our Island is to visitors and actually become a positive message for our tourism partners,” said Mr Stocek.Bermuda Hotel Association CEO John Harvey said: “I would simply state that there are procedures for resolving labour grievances and encourage all parties to use this tried and proven method.”