an unprecedented number of overseas delegates, increasing numbers by almost 60 percent, according to event organisers.

The high-powered conference, which will be held on at a later date to attract more visitors and better delegates, is scheduled for October 3 to 5 at a new venue -- the Sonesta Beach Hotel. And organisers said they hope to get the highest quality of speakers for the event.

Last year 160 local and overseas delegates attended the conference, which was held in the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. But this year the venue has changed and it is hoped that the new setting will encourage more networking. The event was set up three years ago to try to bring both potential clients and business partners to the Island. In the last two years about 100 locals have attended the event each year, but this year it is hoped to bring in more delegates from abroad. This year the focus will shift slightly from giving out information and content to being driven by real business issues from financial solutions to marketing on-line to profitability issues. "We are going to take real business-related issues to the conference,'' said Pat Phillip-Bassett, eCC spokeswoman. A trade show with booths will be run over the three days, and there will be a new international media round-table for a "transatlantic session''. The will be also be information for companies that would like to set up in Bermuda.

The conference, which takes thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours to organise, has not yet announced who it will have as speakers.

Last year it attracted Nick Jones, a senior analyst at Jupiter and Patty Seybold, a computer consultant and author of Customers.com -- a book on how to set up a successful e-business as key note speakers. "We have not finalised the speakers yet, but we are hoping to attract some very big names this year,'' said Ms Philip-Bassett.

"We expect this year's event to be very good. Our intention is to attract more international delegates. We also want to try and get more international speakers so we can move forward in terms of delegates. We are expecting about 100 local delegates and have the capacity for up to 250 at the Sonesta. We are looking forward to a bigger conference with more networking this year.'' Local registration for eCC Bermuda will begin later this year. Information can be found on www.eccbermuda.com.

BUSINESS BUC