Premier Dr Ewart Brown was so impressed by the Bermuda booth at RIMS that he asked if the Ministry of Tourism could borrow it for use at two major international tourism conferences.

The new booth, fashioned in a Bermuda architectural style, has caught the eye of many conference-goers on its debut appearance.

"It's absolutely outstanding," Dr. Brown said as he started his traditional RIMS walk-about. "It's open, airy and pretty and it provides a place to talk with some privacy.

"We've already started negotiations for the Ministry of Tourism to use it. It would be ideal for two events we attend, one in Germany and one in the US."

Dr. Brown headed the Bermuda delegation that also included Finance Minister Paula Cox, Finance Secretary Donald Scott and Chief of Staff Sen. Wayne Caines, on a tour of the vast Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

An ever-vigilant security man was also in attendance.

They were shown around by Bermuda RIMS Committee chair Allison Towlson and Bermuda Insurance Development Council chairman Roger Gillett, as they paid visits to several exhibits.

The group called in at Butterfield Bank, the Bank of Bermuda, Ace and Lloyd's of London, where they called in for a cup of coffee in what has now become a tradition for Bermuda Premiers.

Dr. Brown was greeted by Bob McGowan, Lloyd's head waiter — a title that goes back 300 years to the days when Lloyd's started out as a coffee house.

Mr. McGowan has been doing the job for 26 years and has met several Bermuda Premiers.

"I formed quite a rapport with Jennifer Smith," he said. "We used to go off and have a quiet chat."

One of the executives who met Dr. Brown was Tony Joseph, senior vice-president of Lloyd's America. He played down talk of a battle for business between the insurance markets of Lloyd's and Bermuda.

"We're all in the same business together," Mr. Joseph said. "We have capital in Bermuda and Bermuda has capital in London.

"If you go to Bermuda you're in a tax haven, but if you're in London, you've got real global business."

Dr. Brown said he'd enjoyed a warm reception everywhere and added: "I've just been the recipient of goodwill that has been generated by people before me."