Plans are in hand for New Year celebrations across the Island as residents and tourists prepare to bring in 2003 with a bang.

Hotels are reporting big successes with their array of special dinners, parties and overnight packages, and the old town of St. George's is promising a bigger and better New Year celebration than ever before.

Entertainment coordinator for Spanish Town International Jonathan Trott said he believed St. George's would be the place to be when the clock turns midnight next Wednesday.

"This will be the third year Spanish Town has been organising the entertainment for New Year in St. George's and the whole programme is promising to be a huge success," he said.

"The first year we had 6,000 people, but last year, it was about 8,000, so we are expecting the same this year.

"But this year we have a talent show for the young people, so it will give the youth a chance to really get down and shine and show off their talents. But there will be something for the whole family.

"Provided the weather holds up, we are hoping for bumper crowds."

The entertainment will kick off in the Town Square soon after 7 p.m. with music from a DJ. The Youth Talent Explosion will begin at about 8.30 p.m., when young people are being invited to perform on stage to the waiting audience.

Jahstice Reggae Movement will take to the stage at about 9.30 p.m., followed by a performance by United Productions Dance Company directed by Suzette Harvey.

Vocalist Stephanie P will be centre of attention from about 10.45 p.m., followed by singer Gita Blakeney, and her music partner Robert Edwards, who will entertain the crowds on the run up to midnight.

As usual, when the clock strikes 12, the huge onion will drop and fireworks will begin.

Gita Blakeney will perform again, and from 1 a.m. onwards, a DJ will take over.

Children will be entertained throughout with the help of bouncy castles, go-karts and train rides at Kiddie Land; there will be an international food court to ensure that appetites are sufficed; noise-makers, hats and streamers will also be on hand.

"It will be a lot of fun for everyone," added Mr. Trott. "Everyone should come down and join in."

For those not planning to go to St. George's this year, there are a variety of things on offer around the Island.

Harmony Club hotel assistant manager Manfield Seibert said its New Year dinner and guest rooms had been sold out for the last two months.

He said: "We started the waiting list about two months ago. Our New Year's Eve event was so successful last year, we did not need to advertise this year. It was purely word of mouth."

The Reefs hotel in Southampton is reporting a sell-out, too. It is expecting 150 people for dinner on New Year's Eve, and almost all of its guest rooms are taken.

Duty manager Barb Jones said: "We are fairly busy, and the hotel itself is fairly busy. We have some locals coming in just for the evening, but most are going to be overnight guests."

Michael Nugent at the Fairmont Southampton gauged that the hotel's 500 plus rooms would all be taken on December 31 next week.

He said: "We will be sold out for new year. The majority of people are from overseas, but we will have a lot of locals staying, too.

"We have been inundated with local reservations over the past two weeks."

However, he said tickets were still on sale for New Year dinner and party events at the Waterlot Inn, Newport Room, and Windows on the Sound.

And Donald Bowman, front of house manager at the Elbow Beach said all of its rooms were sold out, and he was expecting a full house.

He said the buffet party at Verandah Bar was sold out, as was the dinner and party at Cafe Lido and The Deep nightclub; and only a couple of tables were still available at the Seahorse Grill.

But he said every room had been snapped up.

"We are actually fully booked,"Mr. Bowman said. "We have been running a special locals' rate and that has proved very popular. I think about 30 percent of our guests will be coming from overseas - we have quite a few repeat guests that come every year.

"I think the atmosphere will be great. We are having fireworks on the beach a little after midnight, to give people a chance to see in the New Year, so it should be a very fun night."