first step up the career ladder.

Tracey Watson, 27, has been appointed conference services manager at the Elbow Beach Hotel in Paget.

The promotion comes a year after Ms Watson, a graduate of Bermuda College and Morris Brown University in Atlanta, Georgia, was taken on at the hotel.

Now Ms Watson, of Southampton, the 1990 winner of the hotel's scholarship award, will be in charge of looking after group incentive and business guests.

She said: "I'm delighted -- my new job will be to arrange meetings, coordinate activities and make all their needs are taken care of.'' Also on the way up is Shirley Richardson -- moving from director of resort activities to chief concierge.

Ms Richardson, 41, of Pembroke, formerly in charge of the US Navy's exchange stores system on its now-shut Island base, has been with the hotel for three years.

The Indiana University graduate said: "I'm elated -- we are trying to take our guest services programme to a new level and we want a first class concierge programme.

"We never use the term `no, you can't do it' or `you can't have that'.'' And ex-financial controller Andrew Swan is also cashing in on the round of promotions.

Mr. Swan has been appointed to the post of director of finance at Elbow Beach.

His hotel career spans nearly a quarter of a century, having worked in 11 hotels in four countries.

Hotel human resources director Robert Calderon said all the appointments reflected the hotel's policy of rewarding ambition.

He added: "Tracey, in a very short time, has been promoted to a very important position in the hotel. It's a key promotion and it's a success story for her and for us.

"We are a company which is looking for talented individuals. We want the best talent and we want to reward that talent by promoting it.

"All three have made significant contributions and we expect many wonderful things from them in the future.'' FIVE STAR STAFF -- Three employees at the Elbow Beach Hotel have taken a step up the career ladder. They are (left to right) Andrew Swan, appointed director of finance; Shirley Richardson, now chief concierge and Tracey Watson, who becomes conference services manager.