Guest Accommodation / Bed & Breakfast of the Year Who can enter? This award covers all areas of guest accommodation including bed & breakfasts, farmhouses, inns, restaurants with rooms, guesthouses within the Liverpool City Region that has been operating for more than six months in 2015. The award winner will offer a high standard of accommodation and customer care in a homely and friendly atmosphere. Applicants must meet one of the following criteria: - 1. Be assessed as guest accommodation by Quality in Tourism or The AA, achieving 1-5 star rating. 2. Be ranked in the Top 20 B&B s in Liverpool City Region on Trip Advisor. 3. Achieve a minimum of 4 star rating on Trip Advisor, based on a minimum of 10 customer reviews. 4. Be part of a brand, which has its own self-certification/inspection scheme - evidence to be provided. 5. Be recognised or recommended by a reputable accommodation directory e.g. Mr & Mrs Smiths or Johnson s (not one in which you pay to feature.
The Benefits of Entering the Tourism Awards The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards are a great opportunity for you and your business or organisation to be recognised and rewarded on a sub regional and potentially national basis for providing excellence within the visitor economy. Award winners gain a competitive edge through recognition of their commitment to excellence and quality standards. Significant press and PR coverage can be gained at a local and national level, for shortlisted businesses and the winners. Entering the awards is a positive, open and motivating way to recognise and reward your staff and their contribution to the business. Award winning businesses can attract high quality staff and help increase motivation, loyalty and commitment of existing staff. Entering the Awards and completing an application is an excellent management tool and helps businesses focus on key aspects of managing the business and how they can develop and improve in the future. Category Winners can progress to the national VisitEngland Awards. The Liverpool City Region LEP will automatically enter those winners in the relevant categories. Judging Judges are looking for examples of excellence in all areas of business practice, customer care and product development. The first stage of judging is based on your entry forms plus online reviews where available and your website. Be factual and honest and don t assume that judges know your business. The form should be emailed (by the closing date stated) to tourismawards@eventfulonline.com A panel of judges will review entries and draw up a shortlist. Short-listed establishments will receive an unannounced overnight visit and applicants for this category must be willing to reimburse for the overnight accommodation and breakfast (excluding any alcoholic drinks). You will be invoiced for the total amount after the visit. The second stage judging panel will convene to select winners from the shortlist, taking account of your original entry, first stage judging reports, any mystery visits or interviews, along with your supporting evidence. Particular attention will be paid to any quality accreditation reports such as QIT/ TASTE/ VAQAS and user generated content on sites such as Trip Advisor will also be considered in selecting the final winner.
Feedback is available on request, however judges decisions are final. Bearing in mind the scale of your business, judges are looking for evidence of your impact on the local economy. The presentation of your submission will be judged on the relevance and clarity of the answers to the questions posed. Supporting Evidence Evidence to support your entry will be required ONLY if you are shortlisted. We encourage you to provide supporting material and evidence to help the judges fully understand and assess your application. Evidence must be clearly referenced to the appropriate question. Evidence that is poorly presented or not clearly referenced will not be considered. Any claims made in applications must be substantiated by supporting evidence and may be subject to testing by judges. All applications and supporting material should be supplied electronically via email to tourismawards@eventfulonline.com Please use common Microsoft or PDF formats Consider providing relevant supporting evidence such as: Photographs Extracts of marketing initiatives/collateral Brochures and menus Training plans & awards Press cuttings, examples of customer letters, examples of feedback forms, staff newsletters Access/green policies and statements Applications must include at least one high res photograph that can be used for PR and presentation purpose. Guest Accommodation of the Year - APPLICATION FORM
Next Steps Please complete the application form and email to the address below as soon as possible, but no later than 5pm on Friday 22 nd January 2016. By entering the Awards, you agree to be part of any publicity undertaken in association with the Awards. Furthermore, if selected as a finalist, you accept and agree that LCR Tourism Awards may use or publish any photographs, comments or evidence submitted in the Awards programme, or any other media, waiving any rights to payment or to inspect and approve a finished product. Winners will be announced at a glittering award ceremony, which will take place on Thursday 19 th May 2016. Tickets are available now at 85 + VAT (LEP members) and 95 + VAT (non LEP members). Attended by in excess of 500 tourism leaders and businesses, the 2016 annual tourism awards dinner and ceremony provides an ideal opportunity to network with industry professional and to celebrate your business achievements. The event was a sell out in 2015 and we would expect demand for tickets to be equally as high in 2016. Early booking is recommended. Reserve your place(s) by emailing tourismawards@eventfulonline.com or call 0844 809 4399 for more details. Good luck with your entry and we look forward to seeing you at the event. Eventful Marketing and Live Events T: 0844 809 4399 M: 07484 047361 E: tourismawards@eventfulonline.com
Guest Accommodation and Bed & Breakfast of the Year The answers to the following questions form the basis of your submission to the Business Information Contact Details Contact Name: Business/Property Name: Business Type: Business Address: Telephone: Mobile: Email: Website: Social media user names: *PR Contact Details (If different from above) (Please include name and contact details) *If a PR contact is provided all communications regarding your entry will be directed via the contact name and details you provide. Business Details What is your Quality Rating and Award: How long has the business been operating: Years Months How many staff do you employ: (Include proprietors/owners) Full Time Part Time Seasonal
Give your occupancy details These dates are used to allow full year s figures to be included Last 12 Months (i.e. Jan to Dec 2015) Previous 12 Months (i.e. Jan to Dec 2014) Total Occupancy: % % What percentage was repeat business: Peak Season Occupancy (Apr to Sept) Low Season Occupancy (Oct to March) % % % % % % Previous Awards Please list all Awards in the last two years Title of Award Level (e.g. Gold) Awarding Organisation Year Provide a brief outline of your establishment (max 200 words) 1. Commitment to Excellence (max 300 words) Please demonstrate your commitment to excellence. This includes investment in money and time to improve facilities, customer care and ultimately your guest s experience. Investment must have been made in the last two years. Define the unique selling point(s) of your business. 2. Outstanding Customer Service (max 300 words) Describe how you provide an excellent customer experience from enquiries and bookings, through to guest welcome/arrival and the stay itself, including complaint handling. Please give examples. What impact did this have on your business, e.g. increase overnight stays, increase in positive customer comments, etc? Guest Accommodation/Bed & Breakfast of the Year -APPLICATION FORM
3. Staff Training and Development (max 300 words) What investment has been made in staff training and development within the last two years? Please state training provided in all areas of the business including technical, service and product. Please state the number of staff that have taken part in the training. Do you have an on-going training plan in place? How has this added value to your business, the services to guests and satisfaction levels? Please include your part-time staff and proprietors if a family-run business. 4. Innovative/Creative Marketing (max 300 words) The judges will be looking for initiatives and fresh ideas that have resulted in a successful campaign. Please consider the following: Successful marketing initiatives in the past 12 months Target market and how the product/service fits the audience Your approach to digital and social media Please evidence the impact this had on your business and demonstrate how success was measured 5. Accessibility (max 250 words) Please give details of how your business / service is accessible to all visitors, particularly people with impairments and others with physical and sensory access needs. Give examples of disability awareness training, accessibility information and provision and promotion. Access Statement Do you have an access statement: Yes No Is your access statement available on your website: Yes No Guest Accommodation/Bed & Breakfast of the Year -APPLICATION FORM
6. Sustainable Tourism (max 250 words) Give specific examples of how your business is committed to sustainability. In particular in the following areas (all areas must be covered) The local economy (local purchasing, local produce, employing local people, supporting other local businesses) Residents and visitors (forging links with local community groups or schools, connecting with charities, encouraging access for all) The environment (managing energy, waste or water consumption) Please describe how you communicate your efforts to make your business more sustainable and how you encourage guests and employees to get involved. 7. Food and Beverage (max 250 words) Describe your menu offerings and what makes them special. Please tell us about what your guests like and how you cater for them. Do you source from any local suppliers, cater for special diets, or offer imaginative dishes that are unique to your business? 8. Additional Information (max 200 words) Are there any other ways your business supports Liverpool City Region s visitor economy, or anything else you wish to add? Guest Accommodation/Bed & Breakfast of the Year -APPLICATION FORM