Premier Jennifer Smith is expected to be celebrating in the grand ballroom of the Southampton Princess Hotel on the night of November 9.

The Premier, who has publicly denied plans to host a "birth of democracy party'' at taxpayers' expense, is the patron for a major fund-raising event for the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) and the Bermuda Hotel Employers (HEB).

The gala "Night of Celebration'' is expected to raise $100,000 which will help offset the cost of Canadian consultants who are helping the two organisations design a programme to increase profits and income for employees.

The gain-sharing idea would be implemented alongside the currently existing 15 percent gratuity.

"The gain sharing will be above and beyond the gratuity system,'' John Harvey of the HEB explained, "but no one can say exactly what it will be as it is still being designed.'' "We have spent the past nine months with our consultant Nadine Winter from Toronto in an attempt to design a formula that will encourage employees to increase productivity, thereby increasing profitability to the hotel employers,'' he added.

"It will be a win-win situation for the employees and the hotel owners.'' He also expressed delight at the Premier's involvement both with the gala event and with the hotel industry as a whole.

"We don't talk political parties here,'' Mr. Harvey said, "and while this will not be a political rally, we have to give thanks to the Premier.

"She is the first Premier who has travelled with us to places like Boston and New York and showed us her commitment.

"She has led the way and we are pleased that she has agreed to be a part of this.'' BIU president Derrick Burgess encouraged members of all unions and supporters of the hotel industry to support the fund-raising effort.

"This is the first major venture that the BIU and HEB have undertaken together,'' he pointed out.

And president of the HEB Norman Mastalir sought participation from everyone.

"All Bermuda needs to take advantage of this joint effort and support Bermuda's largest industry, tourism,'' he said.

"The Government has shown leadership with the efforts of the Premier and the Minister of Tourism, and the BIU and HEB have responsibility to its guests and employees to make the hotel industry an attractive place to visit and work.'' "For many years the hotels have played a major role in supplying the economic wherewithal for many businesses and we still do,'' he added.

One thousand tickets will go on sale next week at $100 a piece for the Night of Celebration. Gombeys, the Bermuda Strollers, and Shine Hayward are among the evening's entertainment line-up.