Trips to Bermuda were among $1 million worth of prizes given away on hit television programme The Rachael Ray Show today.

During the “Thanks a Million” episode, the celebrity chef treated the entire audience of her talk show to a round-trip airfare to the Island, plus a three-night stay at The Fairmont Southampton.

Video footage of the resort, and the Island, was broadcast and the programme is watched by more than a million viewers.

Ms Ray said she could “highly recommend” Bermuda and the Fairmont Southampton after an “amazing” stay here.

“It’s known as the jewel of the Atlantic,” she said. “Bermuda is known for its natural beauty, comparable weather and pink sands.

“You’re going to be staying where I stayed, it’s amazing, my husband loved it.

“It’s on 100 acres and offers the Willow Stream Spa, huge fitness centre, award-winning Turtle Hill Golf Club, private beach and dive shop.

“It’s insanely cool, you’re going to have the best time ever.”

The award-winning talk show, taped at CBS Studios in New York, offered the vacations as part of a giveaway show that honoured heroes of the hospitality industry — including a chef dedicated to getting at-risk kids back on their feet and a waiter who saved a baby’s life.

Other gifts bestowed on the audience included bedding, Rachael Ray cookware, food, haircare products, a professional house-cleaning service, a foot massager, jewellery, a blender, candles, luggage and airline miles redeemable for two round-trip tickets.

Audience member Tanya McDowell, a dining manager from Cutchogue in Suffolk County, New York, said she was “in shock” after winning a trip to Bermuda. “It’s exciting,” she added. Helping Ms Ray to hand out the prizes was actor Tom Selleck, star of Magnum PI and Las Vegas.

The Bermuda trips are being sponsored by The Fairmont Southampton and the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

“The Bermuda Tourism Authority is proud to work with The Fairmont Southampton and The Rachael Ray Show to honour the incredible work of front-line hospitality workers,” said Victoria Isley, chief sales and marketing officer for the Authority.

“Bermuda embraces the spirit of hospitality, so we believe this was a perfect opportunity to reward great individuals and showcase the island experience.”

Shelley Meszoly, The Fairmont Southampton’s regional director of sales and marketing, said the opportunity to showcase the Island came at the perfect time.

“Following the two storms that Bermuda experienced, we found ourselves looking for an innovative way to tell our key markets that Bermuda is open for business,” she said. “We have a significant number of room nights to make up for and The Rachael Ray Show contacted us with this unique idea.

“We are thrilled to honour the hard-working hospitality industry members with these prizes, and the exposure that we have received on the programme is fantastic for the resort and the destination.”

Ms Ray offers the prizes on her show to hospitality staff because she formerly worked in the food-service industry and empathises with how difficult the profession can be.

This is not the first time that she has showcased Bermuda on TV.

In 2004, she filmed an episode of the $40 a Day programme here for the Food Network, visiting the Swizzle Inn, Hog Penny and Fresco’s.

For more information about The Rachael Ray Show, visit rachaelrayshow.com.