Tourism officials are hoping the US elections in November will be just the ticket to attract European visitors to Bermuda.

They are planning a promotion to keep the Island hospitality trade busy when the build-up to the presidential elections starts, in a bid to fill the beds left vacant by Americans who may not travel during that period.

The promotion would also help British Airways keep its new flights busy, filling seats on the five-day summer service and the winter schedule which will feature four flights a week from October.

It would run from September to November and would be coordinated by UK agency Hills Balfour, who believe there is a window of opportunity when election fever hits the US.

?We believe there is a great chance for Bermuda around the US elections so there may be a series of offers around that time,? said Hills Balfour managing director, Amanda Hills Balfour.

She was keen to stress that any promotion would not include discounting, something they believe will hurt Bermuda?s identity as a premium-price destination, and was more likely to include valued-added bonuses with partners such as British Airways and Island hotels.

?That way we are not destroying the brand and we get the best of both worlds. We want to make sure we are looking at today, but also tomorrow.?

They will be working with tour operators to provide the most attractive deals in the UK, where it is hoped the UK pound will have maintained its strength against the dollar to increase Britons? buying power.

John Dixon, managing director of Bermuda tour operator Prestige Holidays, believes the campaign could really help boost the year?s figures.

?It is one of the key things we are looking at; it is going to be light from the US so we are working with BA to get some special deals in the marketplace,? he said.

Enhancements may include free flights for partners who book at certain resorts; better rooms or upgraded seats on flights.

?We want to give the client the perception of greater value,? he said.

Hills Balfour are hoping the promotion will help them reach the target of 21 percent growth in UK business and five percent European trade in the 2004-2005 financial year. That will mean a total of 31,500 UK tourists and 4,500 more European visitors.

And while May and June were good months for reservations, and July is looking good, they are still keen to bolster the latter part of the year ? especially to bolster the new BA flights.

BA district manager Philip Troake said it was still too early to tell whether the new fifth flight, which started at the beginning of June and runs until October, was going to be a success, but said the early signs were good.

?April and May were pretty good but the key is going to be not June but July to September. October has always been pretty busy but we need to drive flight numbers in those months.?

Another potential growth area, according to Hills Balfour is the twin-centre holiday to Bermuda and the US east coast. Hills Balfour lists NYC & Company as one of its clients. Amanda Hills Balfour added: ?There is a huge opportunity with New York, we send 1.1 million people there and we have just hit pre-September 11 targets.?