The 68-Degree Temperature Guarantee is being hailed as a great success for cooperation between different sectors of Bermudian life.

The Ministry of Tourism, five hotels and around 40 retailers are working together to boost the Island's tourist trade.

Under the guarantee visitors will receive a 20 percent discount at participating hotels and stores on any day, from January through March, that the temperature fails to reach 68 degrees.

In addition, the five hotels are offering special November to March packages.

The participating hotels are Marriott Castle Harbour, the Southampton and Hamilton Princess hotels, Elbow Beach and Grotto Bay.

The new programme is designed to counter North American misconceptions about Bermuda as a winter travel destination.

The $1.3 million advertising campaign is aimed at consumers and travel agents using the print and broadcast media in the US.

Assistant Director of Tourism Mr. Peter Smith said: "The Temperature Guarantee is really a communications tool, a hook from which we can hang our various November-March messages.

"The programme augments and amplifies the many regular, daily special events of the November-March programme, such as the walking tours, lectures, dine-around and other activities that the Department organises during that time of year.'' Mr. Smith added the guarantee was an important sign of cooperation among many organisations on the Island. Other additions include sightseeing discounts offering unlimited bus and ferry usage.

Minister of Tourism the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said: "We need the cooperation of every segment of the community to ensure that we get our share of visitors.

"The programme requires tremendous effort to plan and execute because we sought and, to a large degree, were successful in getting the cooperation of everyone on the Island.''