Time is running out to submit nominations for the 2008 Belco Visitor Industry Partnership (VIP) Excellence Awards.

The Awards are presented annually to recognise individuals who go the extra mile to make the experience of visitors to Bermuda memorable. The 2008 Awards will be presented at a banquet on March 21 next year at the Fairmont Southampton.

In addition to the award itself, awardees also stand to receive substantial prizes, including $20,000 in a money market fund for the Minister of Tourism's 'Best of the Best' Awardee and trips for two for the 18 category winners.

Event Coordinator Gillian Outerbridge said: "Judges are looking for details that make a nominee extra-special, for example there was one staff member who organised the staff children's Christmas party in their spare time and another who brought a musical instrument to work and entertained guests."

Ms. Outerbridge added: "We need more nominations for chefs and entertainers, also airline and travel agents."

They also want more nominations for convention, sales and marketing and retail staff as well as those working in production services such as technical support, audio-visual and photographers.

Nominations can be made online at www.vip.bm or the old-fashioned way, by completing a form and mailing, faxing or leaving it in one of the VIP boxes distributed around Bermuda.

Nomination forms and VIP boxes are available in the Visitor Information Centres in Hamilton and Dockyard and major hotels. For further information check the VIP website or call them at 735 0056. The deadline is 5 p.m. tomorrow.