Chilly weather this week left many of Bermuda's visitors with smiles on their faces.

Staff of hotels participating in the Department of Tourism's temperature guarantee scheme, report that guests gleefully collected free bus passes as temperature highs dipped below 68 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.

And they will cash in again today as temperatures yesterday fell two degrees short of the guarantee.

Participating hotels and guest houses which number close to 30, automatically give a discount, usually 10 percent off room rates for cold weather.

Yesterday, front desk staff said guests were enthused about the scheme.

"They love it -- it's really working out well,'' said a Southampton Princess employee.

The hotel posts a giant face in the lobby -- happy means warm weather -- sad means cold and 20 percent off.

"They all know about it,'' she added.

Staff wear "ask me about 68'' buttons to make sure guests take full advantage of chillier days.

"We explain it to them on check-in,'' said a front desk employee at the Princess. "They all come down to the front desk and check the temperature which is posted in the lobby. Then they dash to the front desk for their free bus passes.'' "Some would have preferred a bad weather guarantee instead,'' he laughed. An Elbow Beach employee also reported a high level of enthusiasm among guests for the scheme.

"They get very thrilled and excited when they see the temperature in the lobby,'' she said. "It seems to be working well.'' Participating shops in Hamilton, St. George's and Somerset offer a variety of discounts, gift certificates and free items following cold days. But many reported only a few, if any visitors took advantage of the offers.

"There were not that many,'' admitted a saleswoman at Bananas which offers 20 percent off all merchandise. "A lot didn't seem to know anything about it.'' But she believed the scheme did generate some sales.

The Windjammer Gallery on Front Street offers a free print with every $50 purchase. But the shop reported only one taker yesterday.

"I think it's partly because they don't know about it and partly because we've been having great weather,'' a spokeswoman said.

However Tourism director, Mr. Gary Phillips, said the thrust of the guarantee scheme, now in it's third year, is to promote Bermuda overseas as a warm and fun-filled winter destination -- not to generate sales and bookings in the short term.

"We are trying to dispel the perception that there is nothing to do and that the temperatures are not in the 40s as they are in Cape Haveras and North Carolina.

"It is not meant to be a short term arrangement but something that will positively benefit us in the long run,'' he said.

A special feature of this year's guarantee scheme is a cultural open house. It offers visitors free access to cultural attractions on the Island including the National Gallery, Maritime Museum, Fort St. Catherine, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse and Aquarium Museum and Zoo.

The Maritime Museum reported a good response to the open day yesterday.

More than half those who visited the museum took advantage of the scheme.

A National Gallery spokeswoman also said some visitors on Thursday and yesterday received free admission.

While almost all hotels and shops agreed the scheme was working well, some said more could be done to promote it to visitors arriving on the Island.

Belmont Hotel front office manager, Mr. Jeremy Ambler said he was surprised guests were not more excited about it.

"The awareness isn't as high as I'd expected but we've applied the discount irrespective. I'd had visions of guests rushing up and asking about it but they don't seem to be.'' He attributed the fact to the number of guests who booked long in advance and who had forgotten about the scheme.

But he said a recent New York Times advertisement would generate more awareness among guests in February and March.