Struggling Island hotels have been given a welcome boost in bookings for the Thanksgiving holiday but many are still well behind last year.

More Americans than ever are staying at home this Thanksgiving as the holiday has taken on added poignancy since the September 11 terrorist attacks, said some hoteliers yesterday.

But airlines serving the Island have reported busy flights this week as some Americans have decided to spend the holiday in Bermuda.

There was a mixed picture across the Island with some properties managing to keep up with last year's occupancy levels, while others are still suffering from September 11 and the recent New York plane crash.

The Island's largest hotel, the Fairmont Southampton Princess, has an occupancy of just 30 percent for the holiday, half the total of last year.

Director of sales and marketing Paule Riverine told The Royal Gazette: "Thanksgiving has been very slow this year. Our strong interpretation is that Americans want to be closer to home this year.

"There's a little bit more activity at Christmas and New Year rather than Thanksgiving. There was the last plane crash and every time something like that happens we feel it right away when the telephones stop ringing.

"We've decided to offer Americans who will be on the Island, Thanksgiving at the Waterlot Inn and Windows on the Sound and hopefully they will sell out."

The Fairmont Hamilton Princess is also down from around 60 percent occupancy last Thanksgiving to about 40 percent this year.

General manager Paul Tormey said: "It's a combination of September 11 and what was going on before. All the airports are jam-packed, but there is still some apprehension about flying."

Pink Beach general manager Michael Williams said: "We've got a good house, running at about 80 percent, which is good, given the circumstances. We're a little bit behind last year but almost as good with a lot of families and repeat guests."

Grotto Bay Beach Hotel general manager J.P. Martens said the property was down this year but he would not give numbers. "It's not like in the past, but we've had a few group bookings."

The Reefs is doing well with occupancy for today at 95 percent, roughly the same as last year. General manager Neal Stephens said: "Although it will go back to about 15 percent after Sunday when everyone leaves, Thanksgiving itself is really good. We are very full and where we were last year."

Sonesta Beach Hotel is running at around 50 percent occupancy - the same as last year. General manager Stephan Amesoeder said: "We're looking pretty good at about 50 percent for the weekend, which is about the same as last year. There is a good mixture between groups and locals, and we're satisfied with that."

Ariel Sands is struggling at 25 percent occupancy, around half of last year. General manager John O'Brien said: "We're not doing well. That Monday aircraft crash in New York didn't help at all, but I think Americans are staying at home for Thanksgiving.

"We need to get the message out to the tri-state area about how safe it is to come to Bermuda and how its the perfect destination to come to."

Continental's airport business manager Herbie Siggins said traffic on its daily flight to New York had been healthy this week and was close to last year's levels.

"For general traffic, it has taken time to get, but with the economy in Bermuda and all things considered, we're doing fairly well."

American Airlines' manager Carole DeCouto said: "We've been busy since Monday with traffic coming in and out. It's definitely due to the Thanksgiving holiday."

US Airways station manager Earl Basden said the daily flight to Philadelphia was running at 88.8 percent now and had been pretty steady all month.