Top television personality and ex-accountant Fred MacAulay will head the bill at a special function being held in Nairn on Wednesday 22 March.

But rather than going through his stand-up routine, he'll be addressing local members of the tourism industry at a conference aimed at improving standards and quality of service.

Tourism businesses in the Inverness and Nairn area are being invited to take part and find out how they can 'kick start' the new season in style, by listening to key speakers and participating in workshops covering subjects from employment law and marketing to e-commerce and customer care.

The event has been organised by the Inverness and Nairn Tourism Training Strategy Group, set up to improve the profile of the industry as a 'first choice' career for local people, and to develop the full potential of the tourism industry by raising standards.

The group was established by Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, with a membership drawn from industry representatives and other organisations including Inverness College, the Bed and Breakfast Association and the Education Business Partnership.

Shirley Spear from the Three Chimneys Restaurant in Skye who cooked at the opening of the Scottish Parliament last year, will talk to the conference on the importance of tourism. The Three Chimneys held the 1999 Taste of Scotland Award and has been described as 'the ultimate Highland romantic getaway'.

Other speakers include George Clark of The Old Manor, Lundin Links, St Andrews who will talk about the importance of high standards and quality in the tourism sector, and Willie Cameron, an accredited film location manager and internet web business owner, will give his own unique experiences of a lifetime in tourism. Bill Kerr from the Malin Court Hotel in Ayrshire will bring the day to a close by pointing the way forward for those attending. He has won numerous business awards including the Business Excellence Award for 1999 and the STB Green Tourism Silver Award in 1998.

The conference is being held at the Highland Conference Centre at the Newton Hotel in Nairn on Wednesday 22 March from 9.30am until 4.30pm. The cost per delegate is £20 and places can be booked by contacting Audrey Whyte on 01381 621064.