Tributes have been paid to retiring Tourism director Gary Phillips, who steps down from the post in the next two months.

And it is understood that an announcement later this week will reveal Bermuda Land Development Company senior sales executive Richard Calderon as the new director.

Tourism Minister David Allen hinted that Mr. Phillips would continue with a role in the industry in some shape in the future.

But last night Mr. Phillips was saying nothing about his future role and there was no official news on his successor.

Mr. Allen said the country owed a debt of gratitude to the out-going director for his 15 years service.

And Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell also paid tribute to Mr. Phillips, who announced his intention to take early retirement last year.

It is understood Mr. Calderon, 44, will take over on April 1 and Mr. Phillips will leave by May.

Currently working at BLDC, he has had a long career in the hospitality industry, both on Island and overseas.

After starting off at the Bermuda Department of Tourism in New York, he worked in sports promotion in the department in Bermuda before working in hotels overseas.

A stint at Elbow Beach followed, before he took posts at Modern Bride magazine and Travel and Leisure magazine. And he was also involved in sales and marketing for Raphael Hotels before coming back to the Island.