IT BECAME curiouser and curiouser, as MAD clues were dropped all over the York Moat House Hotel in North Street.

Mysteriously, playing cards began to emerge in strange places; somehow a tray of tarts appeared before the hotel's conference employees; and staff televisions were all beaming out the Alice In Wonderland video.

Then suddenly, Andrew Glover, events sales manager, dressed as The Mad Hatter, ran amok throughout the hotel, handing out invitations to a lunchtime meeting in one of the conference rooms. When hotel staff turned up they discovered it was a massive tea party, hosted by Andrew in wobbly top hat and greeted by the entire management team reflecting characters in the Lewis Carroll fantasy story.

All were there to report on the progress of the hotel's Making A Difference programme - or MAD - which aims to develop team member and customer services skills.

Staff were told that the new emphasis would be a MAD about families programme, arising from a Family Matters initiative.

Meanwhile, one department was congratulated and rewarded for being MADder than the rest.

General manager Shaun Robins presented the housekeeping department with a £250 cheque for their outstanding contribution to Family Matters.

Andrew Glover said: "It is a fantastic scheme which has been a huge success.

"With new initiatives such as Family Matters being introduced it is vital that MAD is reinforced and the future direction presented to team members."

Updated: 12:53 Friday, August 19, 2005