The Department of Tourism is a primary sponsor for a US networking tour aimed at affluent African American women. The national tour will bring professional African American women together to mingle and relax while raising funds for victims of domestic abuse.

?The Girls Night Out Tour? is run by the Just Between Girlfriends organisation, which is based in New York City. The company?s motto is ?friendship, philanthropy, fun?. The tour kicked off in Houston, Texas on February 10 and will go to New York, Atlanta, Tampa and Los Angeles over the coming months.

In each city, Just for Girlfriends holds a female only ?empowerment? party that includes a silent auction, fashion show, comedy performance, give-aways, games, prizes and much more.

The aim is to allow professional women a night off from work and domestic responsibilities while providing them with the opportunity to network with other successful women in a relaxed atmosphere. A portion of the proceeds from the evenings are donated to charities that help victims of domestic violence.

During this year?s tour the women will also receive a package containing detailed information about Bermuda. Patty Pitt, the Bermuda Tourism Department representative in charge of the initiative, said the packages contain information about flights, hotels and activities on the Island.

The packages also provide the women with information about the 2006 International Film Festival this month and the Music Festival in October. Two to three hundred women attend each leg of the tour.

While Ms Pitt would not say how much the Tourism Department was spending to sponsor the tour she said the monetary returns to the Island will far outweigh the amount the Department has spent.

Along with women who might plan trips based on information they received at the Girls Night Out Tour, Ms Pitt said Bermuda would benefit from access to the company?s database. Just Between Girlfriends has agreed to give the Department of Tourism full access to its database and Ms Pitt said an ?e-blitzing? campaign would begin soon. Members will be sent information about the Island throughout the year, including information about flight and hotel specials.

She said Bermuda will see another return from the Tourism Department?s investment in that the organisation has agreed to hold their 2007 ?Annual Getaway Conference? in Bermuda. This year the conference is being held in Los Angeles.

?We are definitely trying our best to promote the Island,? Ms Pitt said.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the initiative seemed like a positive step for tourism.

?I think it?s a fabulous idea,? he said. ?Particularly gaining access to the company?s database. Electronic campaigns are definitely the way forward.? He said that e-campaigns enabled Bermuda to reach a broader audience.