temperature has been dropped.

The Temperature Guarantee Scheme ran for several years in hotels, later spreading to shops and attractions, offering visitors benefits if the thermometer fell below 68 degrees fahrenheit.

Popular amongst hotels when it began, interest in the promotion dwindled over the years and the decision was taken to cancel it.

Some retailers believed the scheme was a winner, but for the last two years it has not been marketed overseas.

Originating in 1992, as many as 21 properties took part in the early years, offering discounts on rooms or other benefits. But by last year, the number had halved.

At its peak, at least one of the larger hotels lost $25,000 during a cold snap as customers queued up for discounts.

Tourism Minister David Allen said the decision to cancel the scheme was taken in conjunction with the private sector.

"Over the years there have been less and less participants. Originally they started to offer some fairly significant discounts but I think they began to lose interest in it,'' he said.

"I think a lot of hotels made the point that rates decrease in the winter and there were very significant advantages being offered anyway. If they offered further discounts they weren't really making any money during the winter months.'' Originally designed to show overseas visitors how warm Bermuda was over the winter, the plan was part of the publicity effort in the US and Canada.

But it is thought that marketing a temperature guarantee could bring negative results -- leading people to believe that Bermuda often sees cooler weather during the winter.

According to one hotel industry source, as the programme evolved over the years the message became confused, with some accommodations dropping out, retailers becoming involved and different benefits being offered to visitors -- making it hard to communicate to the market.

At one stage, more than 40 Chamber of Commerce members were taking part in the scheme -- offering discounts on goods and services.

The Department of Tourism now pitches the Island as an all-year-round destination, with activities such as golf, heritage trails and cultural activities.

Its Fall into Spring campaign now pushes attractions such as the Bermuda Festival, with hotels offering other benefits such as the fifth night free or complimentary afternoon tea.