Bermuda is the only island holiday destination with two properties listed in the International Relais & Chateaux (R&C) Guide. Universally acknowledged as the world's most prestigious association of hoteliers and restaurateurs, the French-based organisation, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has admitted both Horizons and Waterloo House into its exclusive circle.

And in November, Bermudian George Wardman, managing director of Horizons Hotel Group and a member of the owning family, was elected to a four-year term as president of R&C's North American Delegation. This means that he is their representative for an area that actually includes the US, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Wardman, who believes that his appointment is an honour for Bermuda as well as for himself, has just returned from his first board meeting, held at the famed Hotel Crillon in Paris.

To be elected president, the man who runs an establishment called Waterloo House must have made quite an impression on the nationalistic French, for whom the very word `Waterloo' arouses fierce emotions.

Speaking from his office at Coral Beach and Tennis Club, Mr. Wardman admitted, "It did cause a bit of a stir! They said to me, `how can we elect a delegate who owns a place with a name like that?'' He was elected, however, according to R&C headquarters in Paris, because of his "wisdom, long-term vision, and remarkable marketing skills.'' He becomes one of only six non-French board members out of a total of 18 directors.

Now, he is busy making final arrangements for Bermuda's participation in the celebration of R&C's 40th anniversary. Top-ranking R&C chefs from France will converge on their North American counterparts to cook gala gourmet birthday dinners in selected R&C establishments. Local dignitaries will attend two such dinners on Thursday, when Chef Christophe Cussac from L'Abbaye Saint-Michel in the Bourgogne will join forces with Horizons' staff, and Chef Christian Germain from Chateau de Montreuil at Le Touquet will be at Waterloo House.

R&C, beginning with just six properties in the south of France, is now a world-wide association whose members offer the highest standards in the hospitality industry. Properties vary from ancient castles and stately manor houses, to country inns and beach-side cottages.

Mr. Wardman explains that a property can become a `Relais Chateau' without being a `Relais Gourmand'. Contrary to popular belief, R&C does not concentrate solely on cuisine when granting membership.

"The annual international R&C Guide is often used as a `good food' guide in France. If there is a weakness in North America, it is that we don't have the number of gourmands in America that France has. If we compared North America to the standard that's solidly established in France, we still have a long way to go. But I believe it's possible to achieve that standard.'' In its introduction, the Guide lists R&C's famous `Rule of the 5 Cs'. These are: Character, Courtesy, Calm, Charm and Cuisine. Explains Mr. Wardman, "The kind of people who have come to rely on the R&C Guide are the sort of people who take good food and efficient service for granted. They expect the same qualities in every R&C place, regardless of the price. We attract a great many sophisticated, elegant people who, through the Guide, are looking for a special atmosphere, personal service and perhaps a touch of the unusual.

That's why membership requirements and standards are so strict.'' Mr. Wardman is well-known in Bermuda as a gifted and humorous public speaker, but he maintains this didn't help him much when he had to travel to Marrakesh to deliver his acceptance speech to over 2,000 R&C members -- in French. He expects to attend four meetings of R&C in France this year in his capacity of President, as well as several in North America.

"The principal purpose of the association is marketing, but self-policing is very important.'' It will now become his responsibility, along with his fellow-directors, to make the final decision on any applicant in the North America region who wishes to join the present 40 members of R&C. He explains, "When Horizons and Waterloo House were admitted (in 1984 and 1992 respectively), we were thoroughly -- and anonymously -- checked out. There was one mysterious couple, for instance, who arrived, saying they'd `lost' their luggage and they wanted to see how we would handle the situation.'' Another tool employed by R&C in maintaining what America's Tim Zagat has named as the world's number one resort association is a questionnaire left in guests' rooms. These are then mailed direct to France. Proprietors are informed of the comments -- good and bad.

Mr. Wardman, who says he was "expected'' to carry on the family business, attended Saltus, and Philips Exeter School in the US. He completed the hotel school programme at Cornell University, followed by postgraduate studies at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

He met his wife, Claudia, almost 14 years ago in New York. Now, the former TV sports producer is a dynamic partner to George Wardman in his tireless drive to put (and keep) Bermuda on the international tourist map.

She places friendliness and personal attention to guests' needs as the most important ingredients for success in the hospitality business.

"The friendliness of staff is vital. People love to be noticed and they appreciate the simplest gestures in making them feel important and welcome. I think that's been something of a problem in Bermuda generally, but I hope I'm right in saying that I perceive some improvement. Some people have unfortunately confused `servitude' with `service'. Everyone in the tourism business is in a service industry,'' she says.

Mrs. Wardman feels that a friendly attitude is especially important in a place like Bermuda: "Most people who come here can see what a naturally beautiful place it is. You can't count on the weather as much as some places, so that makes it even more important to provide that very special service and atmosphere. We provide a really personal, intimate kind of service which you just don't get in the monolithic alternatives.'' She comments that her husband has always "stood out'' amongst his fellow R&C Delegates, because "it doesn't matter what the weather is like, or where he is -- he always dons his pink Bermuda shorts!'' They both emphasise that the success of their R&C establishments is due, in great part, to the efforts of the managers -- Wilhelm Sack at Horizons, and Mrs. Trudy Mulder at Waterloo House.

"Trudy, who was previously at our Newstead property, has been with the company for 13 years now. She is a wonderful ambassadress for Bermuda and all our guests at Waterloo House love her,'' says Mrs. Wardman.

Besides the two gala dinners on Thursday, February 24, creations of the two chefs may be sampled at two fund-raising events. Masterworks will hold a fund-raising dinner on Wednesday, and the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation will be holding its first dinner to raise money for the AIDS Foundation at Waterloo House on Saturday, February 25.

TOP HOTELIERS -- Mr. George Wardman, newly elected president of the prestigious hotelier and restaurateur association, the International Relais & Chateaux (R&C) Guide, poses together with his wife Mrs. Claudia Wardman.