Bermuda is in for an ?amazing summer?, according to Bermuda Alliance for Tourism (BAT) executive director Wayne Smith.

Some hotels are even reporting that they are sold out for those months, he said.

On Thursday, BAT released projections for May and June which, Mr. Smith said, are ?a success story and a tribute to the hard work of many people?.

BAT, set up in 2001, is a public/private sector body created to bring Government and private stakeholders together to plan the marketing of Bermuda.

?The collective effort of BAT, the Bermuda Department of Tourism, our wholesaler/tour operator partners and the many loyal travel agencies marketing Bermuda has produced very positive results for May and June,? Mr. Smith said.

?Some hotels have already reported sold-out periods and/or increased bookings for this season.?

Figures released from the Bermuda Hotels Association last week show that all hotel bookings are up over last year, including for July.

Numbers for July are currently hovering around the 48 percent range, however, meaning there are beds available.

While saying he did not have the statistics on hand, Mr. Smith admitted it will be a challenge to match the availability of hotel beds with the increased airlift to the Island.

?I wouldn?t say we have more airlift than rooms,? he added, however.

?Let?s get to the point where all the rooms are sold out first.?

The results do mean rooms may be more difficult to find, he said. ?This is excellent news, what we have all been working for and a real positive step forward.

?In fact, the North American Tour Operators Summit, planned for May 26-29, had to be postponed because both the Fairmont Southampton Princess and Fairmont Hamilton Princess, the host properties, are sold out for that period.?

Understanding the booking patterns for hotels will ensure access and availability, BAT marketing committee chairperson Paul Tormey said.

?The reality concerning room availability in Bermuda is that Hamilton properties, such as the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Rosedon, Rosemont, Oxford House, and Waterloo House, are traditionally busier Monday to Wednesday but will usually have rooms available Wednesday to Sunday.

?Conversely, beach resort properties such as the Fairmont Southampton Princess, Elbow Beach, Grotto Bay, and Cambridge Beaches generally have high occupancy Thursday to Sunday, but may have rooms available Sunday to Wednesday.

?We will encourage our visitors to book earlier than was the pattern in the last few years and also inform them of the booking pattern of our ?city and resort? hotels. Given a reasonable lead-time, there is still considerable space available in hotel properties throughout Bermuda.?

Last minute bookings are also still available, Mr. Tormey added. ?Our efforts are working and Bermuda is beginning to witness reasonable occupancies.

?The introduction of new flights, the co-ordinated efforts of the hotels and tourism working closely together, and a targeted campaign are now paying off.?

Acting Tourism director Deanna Wade added: ?Bermuda is lucky to have a diversity of product, ranging from inns to resorts, that enables us to offer availability at several different properties.?