Ted Ming of the Bermuda Strollers won the Minister of Tourism?s Best of the Best award on Friday night during the annual BELCO Visitor Industry Partnership (VIP) Excellence awards.

Mr. Ming received a $20,000 Bank of Butterfield Money Market Fund presented by Tourism Minister Renee Webb.

The Department of Tourism, BELCO, and the Bank of Butterfield, were also recognised as all three major sponsors were presented with a Vision, Integrity and Perseverance Award for their support, said VIP executive director Stacey Evans.

?Without the support of these three it would never have happened,? she added.

The 54 finalists of this year?s awards walked down the red carpet at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and a film crew that projected interviews into a live feed during cocktails also greeted guests and their families, explained Ms Evans.

The Bermuda Island Pipe Band accompanied by a trumpeter created a fanfare entrance for the 54 finalists who were paraded down the red carpet and on to the stage to be greeted and congratulated by Ms Webb and VIP chairman Eugene Blakeney. The 504 guests enjoyed dinner and the awards were presented to 20 of the finalists who received travel prizes.

Trevor Sadler, the director of contracts and sales for USA3000, presented the 36 runners up with round trip tickets, Ms Evans said.

?The 504 people in the room went crazy with a standing ovation,? she said.

Ms Evans also received a shock on Friday night when she was awarded for the creation of the Excellence Awards five years ago.

Mr. Blakeney said: ?Under your eagle eyed leadership, Stacey, the Excellence Awards Programme has become a standard for recognition and acknowledgement in our industry, thank you for all you do to make the VIP excellent.?

The other winners were: Danny C. Gilbert, Elbow Beach Hotel (best bell/ doorman); Ann Margaret Bailey, Fairmont Hamilton Princess (best front desk/ telephone operator); Curlene O. Lightbourne, Elbow Beach Hotel (best concierge/ tour desk employee); Sylvia Celeste Bean, The Reefs (best waiter, hostess, wine steward, room service personnel); Julie Barnes, Swizzle Inn (best bartender); Michael Scott, Fairmont Southampton Princess (best chef); Robert Pace, Delta Air Lines and Theresa Smith, Delta Air Lines (best airline employee); Ted Ming, Bermuda Strollers (best entertainer); Sheridan Edward Reginald Cann, Fairmont Hamilton Princess (the heart of the house award); Margaret O?Connor, Fairmont Hamilton Princess (best housekeeping award); Rochelle Quinn, Fairmont Hamilton Princess (the convention, sales and marketing award); Warrington George Somers-Zuill, taxi driver (transportation award); Simon Watkinson, Axiom Limited and Captain Jerome Kent Robinson, Marine and Ports hospitality support services award); Johnny Barnes, greater Hamilton greeter (activity and attractions award); Karen Cooper Olson, Rosemont (general administration award); Neville K. Trott, Department of Communication and Information (production services award); Rubazene (Ruby) Tucker, A.S. Cooper and Son (best retail store employee); KiJean Dill, Elbow Beach (young person with the most promise award).