Thanksgiving Day weekend has brought mixed fortunes for Island hotels.

Many Americans have decided to get away from the holiday feasting at home and make a long weekend of it in Bermuda, but for the most part the celebration is still a time for families to get together.

The Sonesta Beach hotel, in Southampton, is enjoying a busier time than last year and is expecting occupancies to hit the 80 percent mark.

Vice president and general manager Dennis Tucker said there were a mixture of groups and individual guests, with many senior citizens taking the opportunity to enjoy a break with friends.

"We are quite busy, our occupancy is in the high 70s and will probably reach 80 percent, which is very good for this time of year,'' he said.

"I really couldn't put a finger on what the reasons are, but we are thankful that the occupancies are going to be good for the weekend.'' Vacationers started to arrive on the Island yesterday and will start to leave by Saturday and Sunday.

Cambridge Beaches, in Sandys Parish, is also experiencing a busy time, with full occupancy for the weekend.

President Mike Winfield said the holiday was very popular and following a good October, had gone some way to making up for business lost during the scare of Hurricane Gert the previous month.

But Hamilton Princess general manager and vice president Michael Kaile said the weekend was not proving popular at his city hotel.

"It is very much a family occasion,'' he said. "It is not a big event from a hotel point of view because people like to go back to be with their families.''