it was announced yesterday.

This year's World Conference of Mayors will take place in Bermuda from November 14 to 19.

And it is estimated that anywhere from 850 to 1,500 people could fly in for the event.

Organiser Bonnie Marshall, president of the African American Global Trade and Tourism Council, said the annual Conference has been held outside the US since 1985 in locations like as Tokyo, Paris and the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Ms Marshall said there was a host of reason for the conference be held in Bermuda.

"Just look around at this place,'' she said. "Your are our neighbour, your close to us and have the resources already in place to host us.

"There are tremendous opportunities here. It is refreshing to come to a country and discuss trade, tourism and banking.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the conference was a win-win situation for everyone.

"They are a prestigious group and are very influential,'' he said. "There will be an opportunity for Bermudians to interact with them and we are exploring the opportunity to develop linkages with some of the cities and mayors.

"We are looking to build an ongoing relationship. This is not a one-off opportunity.'' In addition to the making of influential contacts in key US cities, Mr.

Dodwell said the event will bring visitors to the Island in the off-season and open up the African American tourism market.

"The majority of the mayors are African American,'' Ms. Marshall explained.

" It is a remarkably powerful group.'' Mr. Dodwell added: "The African American market makes up about four percent of our business. We believe it can be more.'' And it was revealed that some of the mayors had already agreed to host receptions for Bermuda officials to set up marketing links.

"It will introduce the Bermuda Department of Tourism to a lot of important people,'' Ms Marshall added. "This is a good thing for the Department of Tourism.'' The Department will spend at least $100,000 on the event.

Ms Marshall also poured cold water on rumours that she and her team had faced some local "difficulties'' in setting up the Conference.

And she chalked up the problems as merely the normal challenges that occur in the business world, mixed with typical cultural misunderstandings that usually occur between two countries.

"When we first came here, we came asking for a lot of things,'' she explained. "And we were used to everyone knowing about our organisation and the status that American mayors carry. The status of mayors is different everywhere.'' She added. "I'm sure everything will fall into line.''