Tourism Minister Ewart Brown has met with Bermuda Hotel Association members to work on positive ideas and suggestions to boost tourism in Bermuda.

The meeting last weekend followed complaints from hoteliers that the slide in hotel occupancy rates could be attributed to marketing woes in the Island?s major markets.

This was met with criticism by the chairman of the Tourism Board, Andre Curtis, who called on hoteliers to examine their product to make sure they offered the affluent product they claimed to offer.

BHA president Mike Winfield said the BHA had asked Dr. Brown if he would be willing to meet with its members and discuss these ideas and he responded immediately and positively.

?As a result the two teams met and spent considerable time discussing the current situation and ways by which, working together, we can begin to see a systemic and enduring turnaround with air arrivals and hotel occupancies increasing,? he said.

Mr. Winfield added that it was agreed that there was no quick fix, but that there were ways they could cause the needed actions to bring tourism back.

?We are grateful to the Minister and his team for giving us so much time on a weekend and for their sincerity and commitment. Obviously the two teams did not always agree but more importantly they clearly shared a common determination to get things in place that both agree are necessary,? he said.

Mr. Winfield added that the BHA recognises it is but one of several elements within the Tourism industry and that it is a major investor in Bermuda, in its employees and in Government through the considerable taxes it pays.

?Further, that the hotels are spending considerable amounts in marketing their properties and the Island and that the closer the two groups work the better.

He said this was a positive meeting and that sometimes the media might give the impression that the BHA is constantly at loggerheads with the Tourism Ministry. ?This is not the case and while we will continue to argue our points forcefully, we know that the Minister will reciprocate in kind and that we share much more than we disagree on,? Mr. Winfield said.

?We all want success and our meeting will go along way to bring both together towards that objective.?