of dollars and at the same time ensured a cheaper vacation for their guests.

Only three days after the introduction of a temperature guarantee scheme, the four hotels were pressed into offering guests a 20 percent discount on their room rate.

Yesterday's high -- a chilly 63.7 degrees -- recorded by weather service officers at the US Naval Air Station has also guaranteed those visitors discounts and special offers at over 40 stores today.

During the next three months, if the daily local temperature fails to reach 68 degrees, visitors staying at the Hamilton Princess, Southampton Princess, Grotto Bay Hotel or Elbow Beach Hotel will receive a 20 percent discount on their room for that night.

The scheme only applies to guests paying regular hotel rates, and does not include those staying under special or group prices.

Although this could mean a cut in profits for the properties, a spokesman for Grotto Bay said yesterday hoteliers were not looking at the scheme in terms of losses. He said they considered every visitor to the Island a gain -- even if they occasionally had to "dole out the discount.'' General manager of Elbow Beach, Mr. Tim Russell, voiced his support for the programme, which he believed would "get the word out'' that Bermuda is a warm -- and worthwhile -- winter destination.

"It is a shame we don't have (higher) temperatures,'' he said yesterday. "It would be much more of an advantage for the visitors and the Island.'' But he said 64 degrees was still a decent temperature when compared to cities in the United States and Canada.

Mr. Russell said hotel guests were "getting a kick'' out of the guarantee scheme, especially because of the manner in which Elbow Beach had chosen to announce daily temperatures.

The hotel, which is about 30 percent full, has a trumpeter herald the figure's disclosure each day at 5 p.m. The day's high temperature is then framed and placed at the front desk next to information on the scheme.

Hamilton Princess manager Mr. Francois Roux said he was hoping there would be no more bad weather creeping over from the United States.

But with only about one third of the hotel's beds full, Mr. Roux did not think the cool weather discount would bite very far into the profits.

"We won't be losing our shirts,'' he said.

He said Princess computers had been programmed to automatically figure in weather-related discounts at the push of a button to avoid any last-minute headaches before check-out.

Marriott Castle Harbour Resort will also be participating in the programme when it re-opens in early February.

Hoteliers, shopkeepers and visitors will again be keeping a close watch on the final weather report today.

Temperatures are expected to peak at the all-important 68 degrees. Tomorrow will also be a close call, with a high of 69 degrees expected.