Rescue heroes from the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York have been enjoying a welcome break in Bermuda.

Acting Minister of Tourism Senator David Burch held a dinner for six of the workers and their families at Cafe Lido at the Elbow Beach Hotel on Sunday evening.

Government offered 100 holidays to the rescue heroes in the aftermath of September 11, and since May, 49 of these have been booked.

The New York emergency service staff have been enjoying breaks of between two and three days, with Ariel Sands, Cambridge Beaches, Elbow Beach, the Fairmont Hamilton and Southampton Princesses, Harmony Club, Newstead, Sonesta and The Reefs providing free rooms.

The New York guests have come from the Fire Department, Police Department, Port Authority Police, Department of Buildings, Department of Construction, Department of Emergency Services, Department of Mental Health, Department of Sanitation, Medical Examiners' Office, Mayor's Office, and the Sheriff's Office.

The Deputy Counsel to Mayor Michael Bloomberg - a billionaire who owns a home in Tucker's Town - has been distributing the holidays to staff. City staff in New York are normally not allowed to accept free holidays, but the rule has been relaxed in this case.