as vice-president of catering development at the Marriott hotel chain's Washington DC headquarters to take over as general manager of the company's Castle Harbour Resort in Tucker's Town.

Ten days ago, the 23-year veteran of the firm was named the Island's Hotelier of the Year, and he couldn't have been more gratified.

"It was a very flattering thing to say the least,'' Mr. Borsink said recently of the award. "For your peers to think so highly of you is very satisfying indeed.

'' The Hotelier of the Year Award, which was presented by the Hospitality Sales Marketing Association International's Bermuda Chapter at a gala March 17 banquet in the Elbow Beach Hotel's Cafe Lido, represents a recognition by the local tourism industry of Mr. Borsink's efforts since 1990, he said.

HSMAI president Ms Barbara O'Shaughnessy-Hind added that the committee of hoteliers who decided on Mr. Borsink "felt very strongly'' about their choice.

The hotelier of the year, she explained, is nominated for the award by an industry peer and then judged by a committee on the basis of his or her operation, on any special qualities or achievements and on civic or charitable works.

Past winners of the award, which is currently in its sixth year, include Mr.

Dennis Tucker of the Sonesta Beach Hotel, Mr. Wilhelm Sack of Horizons and Cottages and Mr. David Dodwell of the Reefs.

For Mr. Borsink, who has also served in management positions at Sheraton Hotels and at the Aircoa Hotel Management Company in the US, the fact that he was acknowledged in as "well-regarded'' a tourist centre as Bermuda was particularly significant.

"Bermuda's tourism industry is very prestigious and we are very pleased to have established a place in it,'' Mr. Borsink told The Royal Gazette last week.

"It (the award) does recognise my contribution to the industry in Bermuda and to making the hotel worthy of that industry.'' Of course, Mr. Borsink had already accumulated some rather impressive credentials before he came to the Island.

During his 23-year career with Marriott, he has served as director of catering and conventions at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club in southern California and as director of food and beverage at the legendary Camelback Inn, a Mobile five-star and AAA five-diamond resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Before his stint in the US capital, moreover, Mr. Borsink was appointed to the post of food and beverage director at the 1,900-room Marriott Marquis in New York City's Times Square.

The Marquis -- one of the largest hotels in the metropolis -- was opened by Marriott in 1985.

But even before the graduate of Michigan State University and former management student at the Aspen Institute was named hotelier of the year, he had already established himself as a top industry player here.

When he's not in either the back offices of the Castle Harbour Resort or in its dining salons and lounges -- "I enjoy meeting with guests and having meals with them; I try to do that as often as I can'' -- he can also be found in the president's chair of the Hotel Employers of Bermuda and on the board of directors of the Bermuda Hotel Association.

When he was asked what skills a successful hotelier required, Mr. Borsink replied: "Hoteliers need to be willing to work hard. They need to listen to the customers and em ployees and to perceive trends in the marketplace. The latter is particularly important because the marketplace is changing very rapidly these days.'' Despite the post-recession after-effects that many of the Island's hotels are still feeling, Mr. Borsink, who is a member of the SKAL Club of Bermuda and a supporter of such non-profit organisations as Project 100, the Bermuda Biological Station and the Linwood Children's Centre, said he remains hopeful that the industry in Bermuda will thrive and remain competitive with other tourism markets.

He added that the ability to remain positive in the face of adversity was essential to professional success.

"I'm very optimistic,'' Mr. Borsink told The Gazette , adding that "that's another skill that managers in the industry must have in order to persevere in difficult times and keep their people going.'' The recent award, Mr. Borsink further stated, would go a long way toward maintaining his optimism and boosting the morale of the entire organisation.

"It does give you an incentive to work harder and to try to live up to the honour,'' the general manager said.

"And I've received a lot of compliments and words of congratulations from staff and colleagues.'' HOTELIER OF THE YEAR -- Mr. Roger Borsink, the general manager of Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort, receives the Hotelier of the Year Award from the president of the Hotel Sales Marketing Association International's Bermuda chapter, Mrs. Barbara O'Shaughnessy-Hind.