Two young Bermudians, who dream of one day promoting the wonders of Bermuda, have received a financial boost from a local tourism organisation.The Bermuda chapter of Skal, a club for tourism professionals, presented Asha Hassell with a $5,000 scholarship and Simon Benevides with $3,000.Skal is a worldwide organisation with more than 20,000 members started in 1932 in Sweden for people in the tourism and travel industry. Skal is Swedish for ‘toast’ or ‘pledge’.“The two appeared to be very interested in the tourism industry,” said Corrine Fiocca, a member of Skal. “Both of them have family members in the industry, something you see frequently with young people entering the business. They both seemed to be very keen about their aspirations. That is really what is going to compell them forward in life.”Asha Hassell is studying hospitality and tourism management at West London College.“My mother is a waitress at the Bermuda Bistro on Front Srreet and she is a big inspiration for me,” said Miss Hassell. “From watching her I always liked the industry. It looked interesting and fun to be in. There was always something new. It drew me to it and I enjoy it. Doing for others, receiving a ‘thank you’ and a smile is what keeps me interested in tourism and hospitality.”This summer Miss Hassell, 18, has been working at the Reefs trying out various departments. So far, her favourite departments have been accounts, the spa and the front desk.Her first year of university was spent at the University of Manchester but she transferred to West London college because the tuition fees were more affordable. She has held down a number of jobs to help pay for her education including working as a holiday representative for Euro Camp in Holland, a sales clerk in Bermuda, and as a drink runner and waitress at the Frog and Onion Restaurant in Dockyard.“Next year I am hoping to intern for the Department of Tourism,” she said. “I hope to do an internship with them next year. I am more interested in promoting Bermuda.”Mr Benevides, 19, is going into his third year at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada where he is majoring in tourism management. He has had a busy summer, interning for two months with the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto and in the later part of the summer working with the Bermuda tourism office in New York.“I was a room division intern at the Four Seasons,” he said. “I worked in house keeping, front office, concierge, and front desk areas. Anything to do with rooms, I was doing. The second part of the summer I was with the Bermuda Tourism office in New York, doing sales calls around the East Coast, Cape Cod, Connecticut and so for, working with travel agents and public relations agencies.”He found, through this experience, that he was definitely more of a front of the house person.“I like meeting new people,” he said. Mr Benevides will be starting at the Four Seasons in Toronto this week as a part-time guest services attendant for the school year.“Working with Bermuda tourism really shifted my vision,” he said. “I wanted to go into hotels, but I realised doing sales and marketing and travelling everywhere you are still meeting people while promoting Bermuda.”His father, Kevin Benevides, works at the Mid Ocean Club. “We are thankful for the applicants that came forward,” said Mrs Fiocca. “We are particularly happy for the two young people we selected. We thought they were the best. On behalf of the Skal scholarship select committee we wish them the best of luck for their future endeavours.”For more information about Skal see their website www.skal.bm .