The Bermuda Department of Tourism promoted Nine Beaches Resort at this years? World Trade Market, the world?s largest travel fair and expo, which ended in London yesterday.

Nine Beaches was marketed as an ultra-casual resort where guests stay in cabanas at the water?s edge or on stilts over the water with a window in the floor to view Bermuda?s tropical fish.

Bermuda?s hoteliers had a strong presence on stand at the Excel Centre in London with representatives from the island?s luxury cottage colonies, resort hotels and destination management companies attending the show.

Glenn Bean, Director of Sales and Marketing, said the recent announcement British Airways of a daily flight to the Island next summer was a significant milestone in the Island?s efforts to grow UK business.

For this reason, the Bermuda team, led by regional sales manager for UK/Europe, Thomas MacDonald, were ?selling? Bermuda as ?just a seven-hour flight away? in hopes that this would appeal to travellers seeking a short break as well as a longer stay.

The UK is currently the biggest source of European travellers to Bermuda, accounting for 21, 431 visitors in 2004 and Mr. Bean is aiming to increase these figures in 2006.

More than 45,000 tourism experts and 5,000 exhibitors from more than 200 countries participated in the international fair.

Participants had the opportunity to meet and network with their counterparts, while having a chance to be exposed to the latest developments in the travel industry.

Besides promoting Nine Beaches Resort, the Bermuda team also highlighted the island?s annual Bermuda Festival which takes place in January and February and features classical, choir and jazz concerts as well as ballet, theatre and circus acrobats.