The new chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority has been named Hotelier of the Year by the Bermuda Hotel Association.

Paul Telford, managing director of Rosewood Bermuda, said the award was “a huge honour”.

He added: “I’m blessed with an incredible team and I accepted the award on their behalf and it’s a reflection of them.”

The Rosewood resort was again the only local hotel to win the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award this year.

Mr Telford said that Rosewood would be “aggressively” pursuing five stars.

He added: “I’d like to think I helped bring some guidance and direction towards getting there.”

In the 25 or so years since he started in the industry by taking a summer job clearing tables at Elbow Beach Hotel in Paget, Mr Telford said he had seen a sea change in the product sought by visitors.

He added: “When I came back to Bermuda nine years ago, it was a complete change.

“It was less about the crystal and silverware and more about the personable service, the experience, the connections visitors could make with Bermudians.

“What’s really different now is that it’s about having a special, unique experience, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Mr Telford said Bermudian staff brought an “authenticity” to the job.

He added: “Being Bermudian, I was warm by nature.”

Mr Telford said that “nothing would make me happier than to see one of the young Bermudians on my team become the next managing director of this, or another, resort”.

He said he had predicted two years ago that a current member of staff was “definitely going to get there, and that gives me great joy”.

Mr Telford added: “I hope this example shows every young Bermudian considering this career that they can actually achieve whatever heights they want to rise to.”

Rosewood Bermuda is to close for three months in the new year for a $25 million revamp after it was sold earlier this year to Miami-based hotel investment firm Gencom.