The manager of the Elbow Beach Hotel has called for Bermudians to stop being so discouraging to people looking to enter the hotel industry.

When he was younger, Bill Shoaf used to visit the Island regularly.

Upon graduating from Cornell University, he returned to the Island to work for a brief time at The Princess and then returned to the US.

Recently he returned to take the helm of Elbow Beach and he has noted a significant change in people's attitudes.

"When I was here many years ago, it was a very prestigious time for people to be in this industry.'' he pointed out.

"Now that I have come back, I find it very disturbing to find prejudice put upon Bermudians, particularly younger Bermudian managers, who have joined the industry.'' And this prejudice seemed to be the result of the growing international business community.

"They seem to have to fight the stigma that if they had been really bright or the best then they would be in international business.'' Mr. Shoaf blasted those responsible for this way of thinking.

"I take it as a personal insult. I went to a very prestigious school and chose to do this.

"I have incredibly talented Bermudians working for me. I see the pain in their faces when this sort of comment is made.

"The implied metaphor is that if you can not make it in international business then there is always hotels.'' For many, it was the stigma of being a servant that being in the industry raised.

"It is not about servitude. It is about making people feel like they are at home.'' Mr. Shoaf said if the Island was serious about becoming a strong tourism destination again then this had to change.

"It makes it difficult to attract the best and the brightest and I need them for us to turn this around.''