Fifteen hospitality workers will walk away with exotic vacations and one lucky hotel employee will receive a $20,000 prize at a glittering ceremony this weekend.

The winners will be announced at the first Visitor Industry Partnership Excellence awards, being held this Saturday at the Southampton Princess.

Caribbean vacations, cruises and jewellery will be up for grabs for the finalists, chosen from a short list of 43 workers from the tourism industry.

And as a finale, one worker will be chosen to receive the Minister's Best of the Best award -- and a $20,000 Bank of Butterfield money market fund.

All the finalists have been selected by their peers, bosses, the public and visitors.

They come from all sections of the industry, and include waiters, kitchen staff, taxi drivers, front desk staff, housekeeping, retail, administration and entertainment.

In addition to their prizes, some of the category winners will take part as "tourism ambassadors'' in future overseas roadshows to the US and Europe.

They will also be asked to give speeches in schools, encouraging youngsters into hospitality as a career. All the 43 nominees will attend the gala ball on Saturday and each, regardless of whether they have been selected to go through to the final, will receive a certificate.

Tourism Minister David Allen, VIP chairman Eugene Blakeney and six major players in the Island's tourism business will all present prizes.

VIP organiser Stacey Evans has based the event on the Hollywood Academy Awards, with video profiles of the finalists being shown on a giant video screen in the hotel's amphitheatre.

TOURISM TOU