The Premier's UK College Tour dinner with Bermudian students at one of London's top hotels could run up a bill of thousands of dollars.

According to a press release yesterday afternoon from Glenn Jones, the Premier's press secretary, the dinner is a time for students to mingle with potential employers and hear from the Premier in a question-and-answer session.

The dinner will be held at the Dorchester hotel, which is described in a press release on its website as "an unabashed celebration of opulence in decor, (having) a level of service that is nearly telepathic, and food and wine that is gloriously over the top."

Mr. Jones, last night refused to clarify how much the dinner will cost.

A call to the hotel, however, discovered that two rooms are reserved for the student evening — the Holford and the Orchid Suites — which could cost around £2,000 ($3,200) to rent for the dinner portion.

Dinner menus start at £65 ($104) a person and go up to £96 ($153) without drinks — alcoholic or otherwise.

And the invitation to dinner on Facebook states that there are 150 spaces, entertainment after dinner and adds: "Tell your Bermudian friends and invite them to the event."

On Monday the Premier addressed the Island on the global financial crisis and said he had asked the Ministers to "trim the fat that is not being directed to the local economy".

He also called for an immediate moratorium on "all but essential Government travel" for the next six months and Ministers who do travel for less than three hours will have to fly coach.

Then on Tuesday, he announced the cancellation of his trip to the Azores, which was to follow his UK visit.

Questions were e-mailed to the Premier's press secretary Mr. Jones for details on the dinner. A Cabinet spokesperson said besides inflation the student dinner will be the same as last year. Adding that the Premier was required to attend the Overseas Territories Consultative Council.

The Cabinet spokesperson added: "The Premier, along with the Governor, is required to attend the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council.

"Each Premier, Leader of Government Business, Councillor or Chief Minister and Governor from each of the remaining Overseas Territories is similarly required to attend.

"Having accepted an invitation to speak whilst in London, the Premier's accommodation is provided at no cost to the taxpayer.

"The student reception is identical to the event last year, and as such, save for inflationary increases, costs are likely to be the same as when these questions were asked last year.

"Similarly it is expected that the event will be as well attended as it was last year. The Premier is expected to be joined by the Secretary to the Cabinet and the Press Secretary.

"In light of his presence in London the Premier will keep an aggressive schedule of media opportunities and meetings aimed at raising Bermuda's profile and enhancing business opportunities and investment in the Island."

The Premier will also be a guest at the American European Business Association meeting on Monday and will take part in the Overseas Territories Consultative Council meetings in London.

At the OTCC meetings among other things, financial services, anti-money laundering, immigration and the 1999 White Paper titled "Partnership for Progress" will be discussed.

The Premier is expected to meet with Gillian Merron, the recently appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

In a press release the Premier said: "It will be an incredibly busy schedule in London. There are a lot of important events and meetings crammed into a relatively short period of time."