last month's final occupancy rate rose nearly five percent over November, 1991.

However, Bermuda Hotel Association president Mr. David Dodwell was disappointed the rate was not even higher.

"November needs to return to the 70 percent occupancy days of a few years ago,'' he said. "I do not consider 54 percent a good month.'' Despite the November increase, projections for the next three months lag a few percentage points behind those of previous years.

But Mr. Dodwell said hoteliers were remaining optimistic because of the late-booking pattern which remains prevalent.

They are also counting on a boost from the November-March joint marketing campaign between hotels and the Tourism Ministry, which will see the 68 degree-temperature-discount promotion begin in January.

A 54.5 percent average hotel occupancy rate was recorded by the Bermuda Hotel Association for last month, while November,1991 saw a final occupancy rate of 49.2 percent.

The slight increase was most likely a reflection of an eight-week recovery trend in air visitor numbers.

However, that trend, which saw weekly air visitor numbers increase as much as 19 percent year-over-year, was broken last week when air arrivals dipped three percent.

The drop was blamed on massive winter storms which hit US and Canadian cities, causing closure of airports and cancellation of flights.

The occupancy projection for December is 21.8 percent, for January 12.9 percent and for February 14 percent.