hotels was designed to explain to Bermudians just where we are with tourism and how people in the industry see the problems. It was also designed to allow those inside the industry to suggest solutions. By and large the series by Bermudian senior reporter Henry Adderley has fulfilled its mission.

There are two factors which have emerged as paramount and they are not new or innovative. The first is that Bermuda should stick to and cultivate its traditional customer base of upscale travellers. The second is that visitors will not resist high prices if they receive good service and value for their money. Those hotels which have reinvested in their properties and continue to maintain standards have done well even in hard times.

We quote from yesterday's "top hotels'' story: "The areas successful hotels concentrate their efforts on providing high quality accommodation, service and food plus the availability of a wide range of recreational activities to the upscale visitor. All these areas require reinvestment and friendly, competent staff who can make or break a property.'' The interesting thing is that the hotels we profiled in our series range from the expensive and elaborate -- Elbow Beach -- to the inexpensive and relatively modest -- Oxford House. In themselves they demonstrate the wide range of facilities provided in Bermuda and make it clear that visitors can enjoy the Island very lavishly or quite simply. We do not think that fact is always made clear when Bermuda is promoted. There seems to be a perception among potential visitors that you should not come to Bermuda unless you are willing to spend $500 a day. That is not true because Bermuda has a wide variety of accommodation.

Yesterday's article also pointed out: "Staff are on the front line and those willing to put guests on a pedestal and make their trip one which they will always remember boost the properties they work for, and their own futures in the long run.'' There was an example on another page of yesterday's newspaper which amply demonstrated just how much damage can be done by one incident even to a frequent visitor who says that he loves Bermuda. He has been here 29 times and is now writing to the travel section of The New York Times to complain about the way he says he was treated by a driver for the airport limousine company, Bermuda Hosts. Those visitors who go home and tell unhappy stories can do Bermuda untold damage and if the letter is printed by The New York Times, which may be unlikely, it will harm all of Bermuda.

People other than hotel employees also need to treat visitors well. The Bermudians visitors meet casually can also make or break a vacation. Then too vacations can be ruined and other vacations cancelled because of those who offend against visitors by theft or assault.

All of Bermuda is a vacation passage, all of Bermuda.