Guests at the Fairmont Southampton could be forgiven for thinking a famous rock star was in the house last night.

But it wasn't someone from MTV that had hundreds of teenagers screaming and cheering at a standing room only event — it was the Youth Minister of Tourism competition.

And 15-year-old Bermuda High School student Nikki Lynn-Marshall (pictured) walked away with the coveted prize.

Nikki competed against seven other students from across the Island to win the title and a trip to represent Bermuda in the Tourism Youth Conference at the Caribbean Tourism Conference in Puerto Rico in October. During the competition she gave a speech on health and wellness tourism, where she recommended a destination spa be built and tertiary health care be improved, and regional travel.

In the impromptu round, she also recommended that a hotel be built specifically targeting international business people.

"I think this will be one of the greatest years of my life," Nikki said.

"I am so honoured to be the new Youth Minister and I am really looking forward to working with the Department of Tourism."

Organiser Gladstone Thompson said the event had been a major success and that all students were to be congratulated.

"It was a close, there was only a slim margin between Richard (Tucker of Saltus) and Nikki,"he said. "I would like to thank to the Department of Tourism for investing in our future, we hold this event to remind students that tourism is a viable option and there are many careers in the industry. Its also important for parents to see that too."

And Sen. Wayne Caines, who is junior Tourism Minister, said: "Bermuda has a very bright future ahead. There was so much talent in the room tonight.

"It is wonderful to see the next generation of tourism, I believe Nikki will do a great job representing Bermuda."

The other finalists were Archer Hill, 15; Kijaun Millett, 15; Priya Ratteray, 16; Alyssa Rose, 15; Lela Sujani 14; Richard Tucker, 17; and Kascia White, 16.

Photo by Chris Burville

Delighted: Arms aloft, Nikki Lynn-Marshall celebrates her victory last night in the Youth Tourism Minister competition.