after it was announced.

Talks over the details of the award have been dragging on between Government, the BIU, and employers.

Hotel chief Mr. John Harvey said the union wanted several points clarified.

These included the question of gratuities, and who was eligible.

"This is taking a bit of time, but it's quite understandable,'' said Mr.

Harvey, chief executive officer of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda.

Mr. Harvey declined to predict when the discussions would end.

He stressed, however, the bulk of the terms and conditions of the Haughton's award were already in place at hotels.

Recently the large HEB hotels, except Elbow Beach, said they were almost ready to sign the contract.

But 13 smaller HEB properties have vowed not to sign unless Government changes the Labour Relations Act.

They say a clause in the legislation would bind them forever to the BIU once the contract was signed.

Meanwhile, arrival figures released yesterday continued an upward trend.

Some 17,358 visitors arrived here for the week, May 24-30 -- a 26.6 percent jump over last year.

It brings the approximate total for the month to 68,490.

And between January 1 and May 30 the tally is 171,276, a 10.3 percent increase on last year's figure of 155,335.