A British travel agent who toured the Island this past weekend said a hi-tech promotional product has helped him sell many trips to Bermuda.

Diago Casturnheira was on the Island for the Bermuda Briefing, which saw 81 travel agents spend a long weekend touring Bermuda?s hotels, restaurants and sights. Mr. Casturnheira works for Prestige Holding, the leading tour operator for Bermuda in the UK. He said one of the things that sets his company above the rest was LookBermuda?s interactive map.

The interactive map allows people to tour Bermuda virtually. The map includes an array of sites that might interest tourists, such as beaches, historical monuments, hotels, restaurants and much more. It has photos, information and video footage of places of interest around the Island.

Mr. Casturnheria said he is the only UK travel agent using the product, but expects it will grow in popularity. It allows his clients to actually see what rooms and restaurants are like at various hotels.

?I?ve been using it as a promotional aid and training tool, it makes the process more interactive,? he said. ?It gives the clients everything they need to know about the Island and agents can actually use it ? it?s quite simple.

?It puts people into the picture, they can imagine doing the things they are looking at. It definitely makes our job easier.?

Mr. Casturnheria said he is not aware that any Caribbean Islands or other holiday destinations have an interactive map like LookBermuda.

?It?s just so amazing and helpful,? he added.

The Bermuda Briefing was the largest one run by the Ministry of Tourism in the last six years. Director of Tourism Cheri Whitter said it was quite exciting to have so many agents on the Island. She added that a strong relationship between travel agents and the Department of Tourism is still essential because many tourists still used travel agents despite the boom in internet bookings over the last few years.

LookBermuda, which is owned by Jean-Pierre Rouja, had a display at the opening of the briefing so other agents could learn about the interactive map. Mr. Rouja hopes that more agents will use it in the future in order to sell the Island. The travel agents left Bermuda yesterday evening.