Veteran chef and trade unionist Herbie Bascome has been named by his peers as the Island's top hospitality employee.

Mr. Bascome, who works at the Fairmont Southampton hotel, was given the Best of the Best award at the Belco Visitor Industry Partnership (VIP) Excellence dinner on Friday night.

"Tourism has given us so much and we have to give back for our children because it is our children we leave behind," said Mr. Bascome. "If the hotel industry fails then all the other (businesses) will fail, so we should all stand behind VIP and keep the hotel industry strong."

Mr. Bascome, who was also named best chef, was selected by the judges from 556 people nominated by hospitality staff in what has become the industry's equivalent of the Oscars.

Tourism Minister Renee Webb, who presented him with the prize and a $20,000 gift from Bank of Butterfield, said Mr. Bascome put into practice Fairmont's philosophy of giving guests a quality experience.

Mr. Bascome, who has also trained at the world-renowned Greenbrier resort in West Virginia and the Four Seasons in Munich, is president of the hotels division of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

The others short-listed for the top prize were Clarabelle White of the Rosedon Hotel, the winner of the `heart of the house' prize for kitchen, maintenance and laundry staff, and the joint winners of the young person with most promise award, Catherine Caryl Bell and Reggie Tuckett of the Fairmont Hamilton Hotel.

This year was the first time in the history of the VIP excellence awards that the judges have split an award between two people. Ms Bell, a chef de partie at the Fairmont Hamilton, said afterwards: "I am shocked. I am glad tourism has taken time to show its appreciation of the youth as well as the adults of Bermuda."

A tribute was paid to the late Tourism Minister David Allen at Friday's ceremony at the Fairmont Southampton hotel.

The other winners were: Stuart Albuoy, Sonesta Beach Hotel (best bell/doorman); Heather Ward, Fairmont Hamilton (best front desk/telephone operator); Rochelle DeSilva, Elbow Beach (best concierge/tour desk employee); Edwin "Bill" Caisey, Pink Beach Club (best waiter, wine steward); Ian Williams, Cafe Lido (best bartender); Veronica DeSilva, Air Canada (best airline employee); Randy Lambert, Tempo (best performing artist); Heather Lightbourne-Bean, Fourways Inn (best housekeeper); Cathy Albright, Elbow Beach (best convention, sales and marketing employee); Ashton L. Thomas Sr., Public Transportation Board (best transportation employee); Frankie Rabain, Port Royal Golf Course (hospitality support services award); Steven "Cook" Brown, Destiny Tours (activities and attractions award); Juanita Bean, Stonington Beach (general administration award); Astoria Ismay Williams, Watermelons (best retail store employee); Leslie Todd, Government Department of Communications and Information, (production services award).