A former Bermuda Regiment officer took the plaudits as a US tourism revitalisation event was heralded as a resounding success.

Garth Pedro-Peters was the tactician behind the scenes of last week's programme -- making sure dozens of hoteliers, tourism staff, Government representatives and not to mention hundreds of travel agents were in the right place at the right time. Add to that formula part of the Bermuda Regiment band, the Bermuda Strollers, a troupe of Gombeys and spread it across four US eastcoast cities in just four days -- and you have a precision-organised programme that NATO generals would be proud of.

You might expect that it all took months to plan, but the senior manager for the southeast region organised the entire event in just six weeks -- in conjunction with Bermuda tourism staff in the US and on the Island.

How tourism roadshow became `extravaganza' "When the event was first discussed it was to be a promotion, which we have done many of,'' he said.

"But it started to take on a new life and there was an opportunity to make a real Bermuda extravaganza.

"The Minister's vision was to have the whole Bermuda experience reflected in one event. There is no question now that it is over, that we have been able to create a new image of Bermuda.'' In Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Atlanta, over 1,000 of the top travel agents for those regions packed into city centre hotels to hear David Allen preach the new gospel.

But it wasn't just about free food and drink, in New York and Boston, Premier Jennifer Smith hosted the presentations -- a Bermuda first and astounding many travel professionals with her presence. Coupled with music from the Strollers, fanfares from the Regiment and a spectacular laser light and video show, the guests -- who can attend travel events every night of the week if they so wished -- were clearly impressed by the offerings.

And while they enjoyed real Bermudian cuisine and dark and stormies, they were delighted to see Mr. Allen and Ms Smith get the entertainment off the mark by leading the dancing and small talk. Many of the hotel staff remarked that the Bermuda shows were the most colourful they had ever seen.

But the best was saved for last when the Gombey Dancers snaked around the ballrooms and then went off in an impromptu conga with Mr. Allen and tourism officials bopping happily behind.

Guests in the grand Waldorf Astoria looked on in amazement, and even joined in the fun, as the conga twisted its way into the main foyer. In Atlanta, they went one better and led the charge into the driveway, bringing a slice of Bermuda to the Georgia streets. While the Premier took to the airwaves on headline network radio shows, the Gombeys grabbed the limelight with slots on NBC's Today Show and ABC news.

Both guaranteed media coverage that slick New York public relations staff said was priceless in beaming Bermuda into American homes.

And the sight of dozens of hotel general managers in Bermuda shorts walking down Manhattan's streets was enough to make cynical New Yorkers look twice.

But away from the spotlight, Mr. Pedro-Peters was keen to stress to Bermudians back home that the tour was no junket to those involved -- but a hard sell to drive bookings up among US travel and tour operators.

Leading from the front: Tourism Minister David Allen takes the Gombeys into "battle'' as they take over the foyer of the J.W. Marriott hotel in Atlanta, during the final night of the successful tourism revitalisation tour in the US.