Holidaymakers lapped up the New Year's Day sun -- but lost out on the hotels' new temperature guarantee scheme which started yesterday.

And they can find out why by glancing at the left hand column on Page 1 in today's Royal Gazette .

The paper will be printing the previous day's high throughout the January-March programme.

Five hotels are offering 20 percent discounts on room rates when the temperature fails to reach 68 degrees.

On the next day certain stores will also be offering discounts and special offers.

Guests at hotels involved in the programme will receive "temperature guarantee'' passports to identify themselves at shops.

But with a 74 degree high yesterday there were no benefits to be had.

Hotels taking part in the scheme include Grotto Bay, Marriott Castle Harbour, The Princess, Southampton Princess and Elbow Beach.

Each hotel will post the day's maximum temperature in its reception area at about 5 p.m.

It is also expected hotels will announce the temperature daily.

Under the scheme, only the highest temperature recorded by 4.45 p.m. will count.

Hotels and stores will rely on the temperature printed in The Royal Gazette .

The Tourism Department has also set up a special after 5 p.m. hotline -- 291-2024 -- to record the temperature.

The scheme has been introduced to kill Bermuda's image of being cold in winter.