Radical changes to the Tourism Department's winter temperature guarantee programme has nearly tripled the number of hotels participating.

Twenty-nine properties have signed up for the January to March programme that gives guests a discount on their room rates if the temperature on any day fails to reach 68 degrees.

The increased enrolment -- from 11 last year and six in 1992 -- was made possible by halving the 20 percent discount hotels offered guests.

Mr. Peter Smith, Tourism's assistant director for marketing, said enrolment in the programme would have otherwise declined this year.

The 20 percent discount was too much for three participants last year and too much for mid-size hotels and smaller properties who wanted to join.

"The programme started at a 20 percent discount,'' he said. "Large hotels considered the costs part of their promotional spending.

"But small hotels were not willing to get involved at that rate and last year three participating mid-sized hotels decided not to continue.

"So we were faced with a programme getting smaller. And getting smaller instead of bigger is the kiss of death.'' To keep the programme alive, Tourism lowered the temperature discount to ten percent while adding new features to fortify its appeal.

When the temperature fails to reach 68 degrees, guests at participating properties not only will get the discount but also next-day free public transportation passes for unlimited travel, a passport to stores entitling holders to discounts on purchases and free admission to cultural exhibits.

The so-called Cultural Open House includes the National Gallery, the Aquarium Museum and Zoo, all properties of the National Trust, the Bermuda Maritime Museum, the Crystal Caves, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Fort St. Catherine and the film presentations of "Bermuda Journey'' and "Deliverance''.

Mr. Stephen Martin, of Bermuda Small Properties and the manager of Pretty Penny, said he joined the programme this year because it would help atract more business.

"The discount rate is more acceptable because I'm a small property,'' he said. "It's more affordable.

"I also think it's a great promotion that's beginning to gather momentum in the United States. Whatever we can do to encourage the visitor to enjoy the Island.

"It will take a couple more years to develop as a programme, but we see it as good value.'' Despite the planned winter shutdown of Sonesta Beach Hotel, director Mr. David Boyd said he thought the temperature guarantee programme had merit.

"The programme this year is more interesting,'' he said. "They've put more into it. There's a lot of different elements. You can make a lot of noise (in the marketplace) with it.'' Despite the programme's improvements. Mr. Boyd said Tourism had created "wonderful benefits that people don't really want to collect''.

"They want it to be 74 degrees, not 66.''