Bermuda's largest reinsurance conference, which brings in hundreds of delegates and tens of thousands of dollars to the Bermuda economy has been cancelled.

The Fifteenth International Reinsurance Congress, organised by Hawksmere in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers, was to be held between October 10 and 12 in the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

But now organisers at London-based Hawksmere have announced it has been cancelled following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington earlier this month.

It is the third largest conference to be either cancelled or postponed during October, and leaves hotels and businesses without revenue which usually comes from conferences after the peak summer months.

Michael Bentley, Executive Director at Hawksmere said: "In the wake of the shocking and tragic events we have been taking soundings amongst our speakers and delegates which have confirmed our own feeling that it would be inappropriate to proceed with this year's International Reinsurance Congress."

Last year the conference, which was opened by Premier Jennifer Smith, brought in 200 delegates, in a month which saw the Island packed with delegates not only for the reinsurance conference but also for the eCC conference and the Bermuda Angle, a closed-door affair for analysts looking at the insurance industry on the Island.

Next month's planned eCC conference, a Bermuda organised conference on e-commerce, which was due to take place in the Sonesta with a star-studded line-up of speakers, has also been cancelled and a new date is still to be set.

Another reinsurance conference, Ruark, was also postponed and will now take place next week instead.

Mr. Bentley said that there would be a full refund for delegates, but as travel and accommodation was not booked through them and will have to be dealt with by individual delegates.

"We very much hope to see you at next year's congress instead," said Mr. Bentley. "In the meantime our deepest sympathy should any of your colleagues, family or friends have been personally affected by last week's outrage."