Tourism officials are to go public with their vision for a new Bermuda hospitality industry.

This week signals the next stage in the implementation of Hotel 2000, creating a new culture in the industry -- and winning back the lost visitors in the process.

In addition, the partners in the scheme -- which include the Bermuda Industrial Union, hotels and staff -- believe it will foster a new alliance between workers and management.

Hotel 2000 began last March, but today for the first time the public will be able to see a film, setting out the future for the industry.

In the video, BIU chief Derrick Burgess and Stephen Barker of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda will set out the shared goals to get tourism back on its feet.

Steve Searfoss, of organisers Monitor Company, said some changes had already been made with the new spirit of cooperation, but the industry was not going to turn around in an instant.

An example was the new collective bargaining agreement, which was negotiated without any outside arbitration, he said.

"It is all still in the early stages,'' Mr. Searfoss said. "We are not going to see dramatic changes overnight. It took 30 years to get where we are now.

It is going to take a long time to get it back.'' Hotel 2000 recognises the trouble the industry is in and sets out a plan for its revitalisation.

The plan includes training for "talented and loyal'' employees, with the aim of producing satisfied guests who will return and spread the word about Bermuda.

New career paths will be established, with opportunities for advancement and the possibility of performance related pay -- making the industry attractive to young people.

And hotels will aim for higher standards, delivering a better service that merits the premium price for a Bermuda vacation.

The plans are set against a 23-percent drop in US visitor air arrivals between 1987 and 1996, and an hotel occupancy rate, which at 62.3 percent, was below many countries and the world average.

And they will face the challenge of an industry which has lost 1,742 hotel beds and 2,500 jobs, whilst bringing poor gross operating profits -- in some cases 20 percent lower than other regions.

To achieve its ends, Hotel 2000 has set up task forces to tackle different sectors.

The service task force is to improve guest facilities, such as truly world class service, dining, room amenities and entertainment -- areas where competitors such as Barbados and Aruba excel.

To reach those goals, other groups will tackle jobs in the hospitality industry and how they can deliver the high service at the same time as giving the staff a fulfilling career.

The workshop will take place at Bermuda College at 6 p.m. today.

Derrick Burgess: In the video, the BIU chief and Stephen Barker of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda will set out the shared goals to get tourism back on its feet.