News
Tourism sector drives quality in Leicestershire and Rutland
15/05/2006
Award-winning local hotels rewarded for commitment to delivering quality service
The tourism sector in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has recently scooped several awards to further demonstrate the success of its focus on increased quality and customer service. The local tourism industry is worth almost £1 billion per year and its commitment to delivering a quality experience for visitors to the area has been rewarded with prestigious awards presented to a range of local hotels including the Holiday Inn Leicester, Paramount Hinckley Island Hotel and Best Western Yew Lodge Hotel.
Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions said: “The commitment to raising quality standards is a priority for tourism businesses in Leicestershire and Rutland. It can be a key influencer in the decision making process for a visitor to the area and as such, becomes an important factor in increasing business for accommodation providers and attractions. These awards prove the significant progress the local tourism sector is making by exceeding their own standards of customer service and offering a high quality experience for all visitors to Leicestershire and Rutland.”
National Outstanding Customer Service Award scooped by Holiday Inn Leicester
Sam Hill, assistant reception manager at the Holiday Inn Leicester has won the Outstanding Customer Service Award at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2006. Up against stiff competition, The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2006 judges declared Sam the Gold winner for Outstanding Customer Service Award for 'regularly going beyond the call of duty to ensure that guests have the best experience during their stay. This has generated much repeat and new business, for the hotel. She is also the treasurer of the hotel’s charities trust for which she has personally raised over £10,000'.
Holiday Inn Leicester General Manager Martin Vann commented: "The whole team at Holiday Inn Leicester is delighted and really proud of Sam's win. Sam's 'Outstanding Customer Service', her positive attitude and attention to detail is reflected in everything she does. It is Holiday Inn Leicester's 35th birthday next month and we are looking forward to continuing to offer another 35 years of Outstanding Customer Service to all of our customers."
Paramount’s Hinckley Island Hotel wins top regional business award
The Paramount Hinckley Island Hotel, part of the Paramount Group of Hotels, has became the first-ever hotel to be honoured in the prestigious Leicestershire Business Awards - the Oscars of the region’s business world. The four-star conference hotel, purchased by Paramount Group in January 2005, won the Investing in Leicestershire Award in recognition of a £4 million investment by Paramount that has transformed the hotel’s image and created 120 new jobs. Judges at the Leicestershire Business Awards praised The Paramount Hinckley Island Hotel for demonstrating “clear evidence of world class management practice, a clear strategy of investment and growth and strong commitment to the environment”.
Paramount Hinckley Island Hotel’s General Manager Paul Harnedy praised all staff at the hotel for their commitment to high service levels since the takeover: “This award is particularly satisfying and underlines the solid reputation we’ve earned for service and quality with the local and regional business community as well as the improved facilities we now offer.”
Best Western announces winner of ‘Hotel of the Year Awards’ at annual conference
The Best Western Yew Lodge Hotel was the worthy winner of the ‘Hotel of the Year Awards’ at the annual Best Western National 2006 Conference in Barcelona. The highly sought after awards are open to all 300 member hotels of the Best Western sales and marketing consortium, and awards are also given to regional hotel winners for their achievement. The hotel awards are based on various criteria such as quality assessment scores, customer service skills, quality awards and achievements, brand compliance and attendance at regional meetings. The Best Western Yew Lodge Hotel achieved an outstanding result and the hotel’s combined efforts exceed all standards and criteria.
David Clarke, Chief Executive of Best Western Hotels commented: “Our brand is based on hotels which are unique. Choosing one star from over three hundred hotels was an enormous task, but Best Western Yew Lodge is a worthy winner.”
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