his idea of a limousine service for guests.

"I can't imagine any hotel saying they would not want such a service,'' he said. "I see the taxi drivers of today being limousine drivers and owners.'' Mr. Dodwell spoke after a threatened taxi drivers' boycott of his Reefs Hotel failed to materialise over the weekend.

His suggestion of a limousine service -- made during Friday's House of Assembly debate on proposed new taxi fares -- triggered the threat.

Bermuda Taxi Federation secretary Joe Brown warned: "The first hotel we are going to boycott will be the Reefs.'' But Mr. Dodwell said last night: "We were able to move guests comfortably over the weekend and I'm thankful for the drivers who took care of our visitors.'' Mr. Dodwell believed taxi drivers had misunderstood his limousine suggestion.

"The concept of a limousine service is something readily available around the world, not just in cities but in resort destinations.'' Rivals tourist destinations like Barbados, Jamaica and the Bahamas already had such services, he said.

"I wasn't necessarily saying in the House of Assembly that hotels should own limos.

"In fact, they wouldn't want them. They just want the service available to them.'' Mr. Dodwell added: "Two hoteliers have complimented me on my remarks, and I believe large hotels and small hotels in Bermuda would use limousine services.

"They would be prepared to pay for them, and on-charge their clients or charge them directly. Hotels would arrange for the service.''