Cruise passengers dreaming of a longer hotel holiday in Bermuda can book up on the spot while on the Island, thanks to a new company which has just set up.

Back to Bermuda, with offices in St. George's and Dockyard, hopes cruise passengers and other holiday-makers will re-book while still in the holiday mood.

The company also acts as a travel agent selling other holidays around the world and it believes Bermudians will be interested booking their vacations as well.

Back to Bermuda will allow any hotel or leisure company to advertise for free on its website.

The company makes its money through commission earned by people booking holidays at other hotels overseas advertised on the site.

It opened its doors for business about three months ago, and the company's Norman Scott believes it is going to be a big hit.

Mr. Scott, a Londoner who has lived in Spain for more than 20 years, said the company would promote the selling of all types of tourism accommodation on the Island.

The idea came from George Kezas and his Bermudian wife Joy, said Mr. Scott, and the company hopes eventually to have a staff of 15 Bermudians.

Mr. Scott told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "We've sent a lot of these information packs to hotels, and from through traffic we've had through our offices in St. George's and Dockyard, from both cruise tourists and other tourists, it is very good.

"People will come in and ask and listen and we feel it will become very successful. But it is early days yet and we're still refining it. We'd like more of a response from the hotels and resorts, and we feel being on the Bermuda.com website will help that.

"Any hotel that is on our website, people can book free of charge at no cost to the hotel. We feel that with the amount of people that come back to Bermuda that there is a marketplace for people who want to book all sorts of quality travel while they are here.

"I've never come across another nationality like Bermudians who like their vacations so much. We are also worldwide and they are very happy to come in and listen to what we do.

"There are a lot of people here on holiday coming and asking about buying property or fractionals and we can direct them that way. We aim to promote all types of tourism accommodation for returning guests.

And a bonus for customers will be loyalty cards that give them rewards for booking at any of the hotels.

"We want to go to 15 staff and the idea is to have an all-Bermudian staff. I am finding this very exciting and refreshing and I feel there is so much potential here in Bermuda," added Mr. Scott.