The Department of Tourism will for the first time conduct marketing activities at the RIMS (Risk & Insurance Management Society) Conference this year in Atlanta, which begins on Sunday.

The Tourism Ministry is also contributing $20,000 to the cost of the Bermuda presence at the insurance conference, with some of the money being used to help sponsor the annual Bermuda reception, set to host some 750 people on Wednesday evening.

Tourism representatives will join more than 100 representatives of Bermuda's insurance and financial services sectors that leave for the annual convention this weekend.

Bermuda's RIMS Committee chairman, Robin Spencer-Arscott, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership of international business and tourism in this venture, and said it bodes well for the possibility of future cooperative initiatives.

Mr. Spencer-Arscott said, "We are delighted to have the assistance of (the) Tourism Minister, as well as members of the Department of Tourism's office in Atlanta, in manning the Bermuda booth at the RIMS trade show.

"Many of the 3,500 people who traditionally visit the Bermuda booth are interested in receiving information about Bermuda as a holiday destination as well as a place to do business. We welcome the expertise the Tourism Ministry will provide in handling these types of enquiries.'' Pat Phillip-Basset, Tourism's assistant director, marketing, said her department will also host a reception on Thursday evening at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

She said, "Because there are such significant numbers of Bermudians attending RIMS, including the Premier, the Finance Minister and the Tourism Minister, it was felt that this was an ideal opportunity to schedule other promotional activities in order to capitalise on the presence of Government and private sector representatives.

"Therefore, the night after the insurance industry reception, the Department of Tourism will host a cocktail reception in the presence of the Premier for key travel agents and corporate travel planners in the southeast US, together with VIP clients.

"In addition to the Tourism Minister and other representatives from the Department, executives from Bermuda's insurance and financial services sectors will be on hand to meet the agents and their clients.'' Executive director of the Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA), Wendy Davis Johnson, said that BIBA will be hosting a Bermuda Breakfast Briefing on Thursday morning for 120 professionals in the Atlanta region.

"We've used the same rationale as the insurance and tourism industries for organising the Bermuda Breakfast Briefing, and that is to use an existing function such as the successful Bermuda presence at RIMS as a resource for organising other Bermuda promotions.

"The Bermuda Breakfast briefing, which is part of the international business industry's overseas marketing programme, will feature a welcome address by the Premier and addresses by the Finance Minister and chief executive officer of the Bermuda Stock Exchange, William Woods.

"In addition, the public relations agencies used by the tourism and international business industries will be working to arrange interviews for the Premier, Finance Minister and Tourism Minister.

TOURISM TOU BUSINESS BUC