When Hurricane Fabian left palm trees in the departures area and boulders on the runway, the airport general manager thought the emergency terminal may have to come into use.

He thought hundreds would have to cram into the ?plan-B? NATO hangar in order to leave Bermuda and reach other countries.

But the airport damage wasn?t as bad as expected and this never happened ? until this weekend.

The 650 guests may not have reached other countries, but they were certainly given a taste of them as the blank canvass of the hangar?s huge walls were covered in alternate projected images of Mount Everest and the Australian outback, the home of indigenous Antipodean performers Yothu Yindi.

Within moments of the rarely-seen valet parking taking effect, guests walked down a white corridor, with appropriate dripping ice, before being greeted with a bow by traditionally-dressed Nepalese.

The formally-dressed guests were then ushered into the bowels of this cavernous structure with its high ceilings, concrete floors and endless space.

Even with tables laid for 700, there was still more than enough room for the bar area, a montage of Everest photos and even a jeep and bike, for the later auctions.

The hangar, built rather needlessly by the soon-to-be departing Americans in 1995, is big enough for a concert, an indoor football game and any number of other showpiece events ? the likes of which Bermuda has been incapable of staging elsewhere due to space restrictions.

Although red tape wasn?t an issue for this event, the proximity to the airport and some Fabian roof damage did cause some pre-event concerns for the ISIS Foundation, organisers of the evening.

But the early-evening smiles of the guests, and the odd gasp of astonishment upon first entering the vast chamber, were evidence that the endeavour had been worthwhile.

Once seated at one of the 75 tables, each adorned with Everest-alike ice structures, the guests were treated to quite a show.

The blank canvas of the enormous hangar walls provided plenty of opportunity to project the awe-inspiring images of Himalayan mountain-scapes and views of Ayers Rock.

Dinner was punctuated with on-stage entertainment with both speeches and some exemplary didgeridoo work from our aboriginal friends.

After dinner Peter Hillary, son of Everest?s first conqueror Sir Edmund 50 years ago, gave an insight into his world of mountaineering and adventure.

He has spoken all over the world, but told of his delight at being in Bermuda. He said he loved the Island?s friendliness, he loved its unique cultural melting pot, and he loved the venue in which his image from the stage was projected onto three walls.

People can stage posh, formal gala dinners all over the world, and given Bermuda?s lack of hills, this 50th anniversary of the climbing of Mount Everest celebration could quite happily have taken place elsewhere.

But the Island-based ISIS Foundation was determined that the show go on here and, thanks to the hangar?s incomparable size, it could.

Filling a hangar, even with visitors, is not going to save Bermuda?s tourism industry, but on an Island where entertainment opportunities are lacking in the off-season, it certainly can?t hurt.