While Bermuda's Alliance for Tourism (BAT) was calling on residents to bond together in support of tourism yesterday, one local club owner had already gone out of his way to treat fellow passengers on a flight diverted by the September 11 tragedies to the full extent of Bermudian hospitality.

Club 40 owner Kevin Burrows found himself among the 128 Air Canada passengers whose Toronto-Bermuda flight ended up in Norfolk, Virginia for two days following the attacks.

But on the ground in Norfolk, Mr. Burrows took lemons and made lemonade.

"From the time we landed until after we arrived (in Bermuda), one of your residents gave us a ray of Bermuda sunshine," wrote fellow passengers Bonnie Llewellyn of Hamilton, Canada, in a letter forwarded to the Premier and The Royal Gazette.

"(Mr. Burrows') upbeat personality was amazing, even as we sat on the runway in Norfolk waiting to disembark," she wrote. "On our second day, Kevin arranged for two 15-passenger vans to be rented to shuttle us back and forth to the mall so we could shop and sightsee. He took charge and made sure everyone was looked after at the hotel."

But Mr. Burrows generosity to his fellow passengers did not end in Norfolk. Back in Bermuda on September 20, Mr. Burrows arranged an "Air Canada Survivor Party" for his new friends.

"It took place on Friday night at Club 40," wrote Ms Llewellyn. "When we arrived, we were given free drinks for us and our Bermudian hosts. There were also free hors d'oeuvres and sandwiches for all. This gave us the opportunity to visit with others that had shared our experience and also to meet and mingle with other Bermudians. It was amazing."

But last night Mr. Burrows told The Royal Gazette he just did what came naturally.

"It was pretty strenuous in Norfolk," he said. "There was no restaurant, no bar, we had no luggage and we were all getting antsy. I just arranged for two vans to make people mobile so we could do things. We didn't know when we were going to be leaving." Mr. Burrows said the passengers were told the plane was landing for fuel in Norfolk and only informed once on the ground that two hijacked planes had obliterated the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

"I was travelling alone with my wife here sick with worrying," he said. "But if I had to do it all again, I wouldn't do it any differently."

Mr. Burrows said he thought 60 to 70 percent of those on the flight were tourists and that most locals and tourists on board turned out at his survivor bash. "We bonded together," he said. "I thought in light of all these new friendships we should have a party at the club."

Mr. Burrows' spirit turned a trying situation into a memorable one for fellow passengers. "To think that someone would go out of their way like this for people he didn't even know is something very special," wrote Ms Llewellyn. "He should be commended for his ingenuity and what he did for the tourism industry on this day. hank you Kevin and the people of Bermuda for a wonderful vacation. I will be back."