An 18-year-old hospitality worker will be competing for a $20,000 money market fund in this year's VIP Excellence Awards to be held next week.

Six-year hospitality veteran and VIP nominee Leslie Swan met with The Royal Gazette's Young Observer section and spoke about his interest in one of Bermuda's premiier industries.

"I got started when I met some tourists in Dockyard (as a kid); after I talked to them, I got a job. From that (conversation), I knew this would be a good industry for me," he said.

Leslie said he started by volunteering for the Visitor Industry Partnership.

"I use to catch the bus from home in Somerset to St. George's to the airport and set up the information desk. I had information on airlines, Bermuda and that sort of thing," he said.

He did the job on weekends and summers while still in school at CedarBridge.

After making several contacts, Leslie worked at Henry VIIIs and then at airlines as an assistant to the agents.

"I wanted to take my time in schooling and not rush into anything. So I started at the Bermuda College, took a one-year course, a certification programme in Front Office work," he explained.

"It's a starting point and I know I'd feel comfortable doing it. After that, I did my internship on the Nordic Empress cruise ship, which lasted eight weeks and then I continued for the rest of the summer volunteering on board," Leslie said.

But an employment deal fell through and Leslie was left on the Island when the Empress went south for the season.

"Right now, I'm applying for scholarships for school abroad," he told Young Observer.

He said his backers include the Ministry of Tourism and the Bermuda College, and hopes to move on from this stumbling block.

And with the awards ceremony coming up, Leslie focused his attention on finding employment during the off-season and applying for scholarships.

Any doubt about Leslie's ability would be offset by the fact that a tourist nominated him for the VIP Excellence Awards.