Bermuda-lovers have a chance to earn an extra $625 or more thanks to the Department of Tourism?s new ?Points of Light? initiative, launched yesterday.

The new programme allows anyone ? except travel agents, tour operators, and members of the Bermuda Tourism sales staff ? to refer target groups interested in travelling to the Island to the Department in a pay-for-performance initiative.

The groups must consist of 25 people or more, and could include social events, sporting events, convention business, or educational or religious events.

?The individual ? or ?point of light? ? will work in tandem with the Bermuda Department of Tourism and a preferred travel agent for the booking of the group,? Tourism Minister Ewart Brown explained yesterday. ?They would serve as independent contractors, so to speak, who are motivated to sell Bermuda as a tourist destination because they love Bermuda.?

The Points of Light will provide the Department with a simple report specifying the name of the group, and the travel agency of choice, he explained. If the individual does not have a travel agency in mind, the Department will recommend a travel consultant identified as a Bermuda specialist.

Then, Dr. Brown said, the group must stay in a licensed Bermuda property. ?Yes, only hotel stays at licensed properties are eligible for the incentive. Vacation home rentals, cruise visits and staying with friends or relatives do not qualify for the programme.?

Once confirmation of the trip has been received, the New York Bermuda Tourism office will process the paperwork to issue payment directly to the Point of Light agent. Agents will receive $25 per person for a minimum group of 25 people, and a further $25 for every person after that.

Tourism has constructed a Business Development Agreement to protect the integrity of the programme, Dr. Brown said. ?For example, bookings must be made by a Point of Light agent between dates of contractual agreement.

?Only one incentive will be earned per group stay in Bermuda, however, agents can earn more than one incentive payment for additional groups during the life of the Business Development Agreement.?

The Department has put aside ?an amount of money that we think will satisfy us in the coming year,? Dr. Brown said.

?If we can get 50,000 visitors over a three-year period with this programme it will be well worth it.?

Agents do not have to be Bermudian and do not have to live in Bermuda, he added. ?You just have to love Bermuda.?

This is a dynamic programme that can offer an individual great financial benefits. As such, I want to invite all interested persons to contact the Department of Tourism and get involved in becoming a Point of Light.?

Programme co-ordinator Glenn Bean, from the Department?s New York office, said word of mouth buzz alone had already generated interest in the programme.

Interested parties can contact him at 1-800-233-6106 or via e-mail at pointsoflightbermudatourism.com. ?We are extremely excited,? he said.