Island.

Tourism Minister David Dodwell announced his department's new $800,000 group and incentive travel marketing campaign -- called "Discover Bermuda'' -- at the Explorer's Club in New York on Wednesday.

Journalists attended the luncheon where Mr. Dodwell said: "The focus of the campaign is to entice members of the corporate, incentive and association markets to explore Bermuda and to discover the many opportunities available to the big group market.

"Bermuda is one big treasure chest filled with exceptional value, full-service luxury hotels and unique venues and activities all just waiting to be discovered, or in some cases rediscovered.'' The campaign includes both advertising and public relations efforts and will begin appearing in various print publications in June.

The ads will feature real-life meeting planners on explorations of Bermuda and will showcase five Island hotel partners -- Elbow Beach, Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort, The Princess, Southampton Princess and Sonesta Beach.

As part of the campaign, group travel professionals, who have completed a site inspection visit or held a programme on the Island, will be invited to join the Bermuda Explorer's Club.

They will receive a membership certificate, up-to-date information about exciting group and incentive opportunities in Bermuda and details about their fellow members' experiences on the Island.

Mr. Dodwell said: "Through the Bermuda Explorer's Club we hope to share information with our members.

"We want them to know about their discoveries in Bermuda, and we want to share with them news about venues, events and the creativity our hotels and destination management companies have applied to recent group programmes.''