The Premier plans to have a Hospitality Learning Centre up and running by the end of 2008.

Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown said he was excited about the programme which would encourage and assist Bermudians entering the tourism industry and meet the needs of Bermuda's "Platinum Period".

Dr. Brown said Bermuda College had been considered as a site for the new programme — but that it would not be a part of the Bermuda College curriculum.

"In the 1980s there used to be a lot of Bermudians in the hospitality industry but they left," he said. "They left because they could go in, but not up, so they just went out the door.

"We need to provide Bermudians with the opportunities to work within the hospitality industry. With the number of hotel developments happening in the coming years we need Bermudians working in hospitality.

"Right now we are doing our due diligence. We will be asking hotels and hospitality partners to partner with Government on this.

"We want to have it by the end of the calendar year. It will not be within anyone hotel, Bermuda College has been mentioned as a site for it, but it will not be a Bermuda College programme."