Hopes are high of a record number of hotels in next year's temperature guarantee scheme.

This follows a radical shake-up in the scheme to get more hoteliers to join.

The bad news for visitors is that discounts on hotel rates when the temperature fails to hit 68 degrees will slip from 20 to 10 percent.

But the good news is that there will be a host of extra goodies. These include complimentary "dark and stormies'' in the lobby and such gestures as wine with dinner.

Historical and cultural attractions will also be thrown open to hotel guests for free the day after the temperature fails to hit 68.

Yesterday tourism chiefs said final touches were still being applied to the revamped January-March programme. So far, however, there had been a upbeat reaction from hoteliers.

This year 11 hotels took part in the scheme -- more than double 1993's number.

For the first time medium-sized properties took part. It is thought at least three more hotels will join in 1995.

Hotels which have promised to rejoin include Elbow Beach, Grotto Bay, Marriott's Castle Harbour, The Princess, Southampton Princess, Palmetto Bay, The Reefs, Stonington Beach, and Lantana Colony Club.

Joining next year are Belmont, Sonesta, Cambridge Beaches, Fourways Inn, and Pompano Beach.

Hotels have until this Friday to tell the Department of Tourism they intend to join the programme.

Yesterday the department's assistant director of marketing Mr. Peter Smith said he expected other properties would join as well.

"I am very excited about the scheme,'' he exclaimed.

Mr. Smith said the finishing touches to the programme should be complete within two weeks.

He said the idea of a "Cultural Open House'' -- allowing guests to enter certain tourist attractions free of charge -- had gone down very well with hotels.

"Consideration is also being given to introducing a one-day transportation pass to accompany the Cultural Open House.'' The temperature guarantee scheme was launched to banish the notion that Bermuda was cold during winter. The highest temperature between midnight and 5 p.m. -- recorded by the US Naval Air Station -- is considered.

When the temperature fails to reach 68, as well as reduced hotel rates, visitors can also snap up cut-price goods at certain stores.

Stores taking part are listed in special "passports'' visitors receive on checking into hotels involved in the scheme.

Tourism chiefs say the scheme has given travel agents a strong tool in selling Bermuda, particularly in North America where people are keen to get away from their cold winters.

The programme has been plugged heavily in overseas advertising drives.