The AA Travel Guides American Express Awards Programme provides AA Quality Assured or star graded establishments around South Africa with the opportunity to enter their establishment into this prestigious competition.  Being an achiever in the awards programme is a great way for business owners and managers in the hospitality industry to put their establishments on the map.

The programme provides business owners and managers with a means to find out directly from their guests whether or not their establishment is up to winning standards.  Awards are good for business, especially during this tough economic climate, and the awards programme can be used to place an establishment firmly in the public eye, which is imperative for any business owner’s brand.  Aside from this, the awards programme also motivates employees and promotes staff involvement in the smooth running of the establishment.

Now in its seventeenth year, this consumer-based programme is well known for identifying and awarding only the best tourist accommodation establishments in South Africa, thereby giving these establishments a huge advantage in the marketplace.  Electronic feedback has now been incorporated into the programme, in addition to guest critique forms.

Last year more than 47 000 consumers commented on approximately 1 300 AA Quality Assured or star graded establishments across the country on aspects such as service levels, ambience, food, and the general quality of the facilities.

Convenor Vanessa Sand says that the awards programme grows in size every year, this year being no different.  “The fact that only establishments with recognised quality indicators may enter the programme already sets a high standard.”

All information received from guests, whether positive or negative, is sent back to participating establishments.  “This assists owners/managers to improve certain aspects of their operations or to maintain their existing high standards”, says Sand, “and makes the programme a very effective tool, enabling them to respond to the needs of consumers.”

The awards programme is already well under way – establishments within the hospitality industry only have until the end of October 2010 to enter this exciting programme.

For more information, please contact Vanessa Weltman on 011 713 2000 or vweltman [at] aatravel.co.za, or go to http://www.accommodationawards.co.za/.

(Ends)

Released by: Vanessa Weltman
AA Travel Guides
Tel: 011 713 2000
vweltman [at] aatravel.co.za

On behalf of: Vanessa Sand
AA Travel Guides
Tel: 011 713 2000 / 083 625 1665
7 October 2010