catching up in order to compete, according to the vice-president of a New York travel service.

Adrianne K. Rice, vice-president of Pisa Brothers Inc. recently visited Bermuda and stayed in two cottage colonies, which she did not name.

She also inspected a series of small and large hotels and concluded some of them looked asif they were still in the 1970s.

"Clients are more demanding and most of Bermuda `deluxe' small properties are still in the 1970s -- so to hit the year 2000, they have 30 years of catching up,'' said Mrs Rice.

She suggested 12 steps to improve hotels -- but also said more Bermudians should be employed in hotels and restaurants.

"Younger Bermudians should be so proud of this `paradise' and they should be encouraged to be associated with the hospitality industry,'' she said.

Among the 12 steps she suggested were satellite and cable TV with video recorder, an outlet for a computer and fax in the room, healthy fresh low-fat food on the menu and fitness centres.

She also suggested having state of the art rooms, well stocked mini-bars, the New York Times news fax, good reading lamps and comfortable chairs with a reading lamp.

"Thirty years ago I worked for the Bermuda News Bureau and when I left I became a travel agent,'' she said. "It has been my privilege to recommend and send to Bermuda outstanding travellers and I hope to send more even in the year 2000.'' John Harvey, executive director of the Bermuda Hotel Association, said yesterday he welcomed the comments but said they were mostly wrong.

He admitted some hotels did not have such things as televisions but said that was deliberate and designed to encourage visitors to get out and see Bermuda.

"We do not want visitors glued to the TV, we want them to see the properties and get out and about in Bermuda,'' he said. "Historically some properties shut down annually to remodel their interiors. If there are some properties that do not have some of the things Mrs. Rice talks about I am sure they soon will have.

"I do not think it is true to say that some of our small properties lag in the 1970s. It is true that everyone should be re-evaluating themselves, but I think that is happening.'' Letter: Page 4