Thistle Named First Hotel Group To Achieve Full Hospitality Assured Accreditation
Released on: August 27, 2010, 3:36 pm
Author:
Thistle Hotels
Industry:
Travel
Thistle has announced it is the first hotel group to be
acknowledged with full Hospitality Assured accreditation throughout its
entire portfolio having surpassed the strict assessment criteria within
all of its hotels across the UK, a quarter of which achieving the
highly-regarded 'world class' status.
Measuring the quality and service of customer facing businesses specifically within
the leisure and tourism industry, the Hospitality Assured accreditation is
recognition of the group's high standards across its portfolio of
excellently-located properties.
Created by the industry's professional body, the Institute of Hospitality, the
Hospitality Assured mark of approval takes into account the unique characteristics
of the industry. It is measured by independent, experienced quality assessors who
critically analysed each of Thistle’s individual properties against ten
customer-related steps, including: customer research, operational planning,
standards of performance, training, development and customer satisfaction
improvement.
These ten steps are broken down into 49 criteria that explored how Thistle's
customer experience is devised, implemented, delivered and improved upon. In order
to achieve accreditation, each of Thistle's hotels had to score at least 60%
overall and a minimum of 50% for each step. The group greatly exceeded this
standard, with a quarter of its properties marked with the Institute’s exceptional
'world class' grading by achieving a score of 70% or higher.
Ann Corrigan, Managing Director of Hospitality Assured commented: "The Hospitality
Assured standard demands high quality standards and strong evidence of customer
satisfaction, making it no mean feat for businesses across the industry. Thistle has
demonstrated that it’s a serious competitor within the hotel sector - setting its
sights high, developing its teams accordingly and putting its entire portfolio of
hotels completely to the test. The group achieved resounding success and we’re
delighted to be confidently marking them as a hotel group that offers excellent
customer care as standard.
Heiko Figge, Managing Director, Guoman & Thistle Hotels added: "This is an
outstanding achievement for Thistle and we are delighted to become the first hotel
group to be wholly awarded the Hospitality Assured accreditation.
"As our dedication to our guests is integral to all we do, this is such valuable
industry recognition for the group. The accreditation provides us with a great tool
to ensure our guests are in very safe hands when they stay with us; they can rely on
our consistently high standards. The Institute’s approval in this way guarantees
our customer-service and care is exceptional every time, throughout all of our UK
hotels."
Thistle is currently well underway with its significant refurbishment project,
investing £100million to transform its portfolio into modernised, individual
properties with a fresh, contemporary look and feel.
- Ends -
About Thistle
Thistle Hotels is part of Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited which operates hotels
throughout the UK. Thistle has 33 hotels across the country including Exeter hotels, Poole hotels and Inverness hotels. Thistle also offers a number of hotels in superb city centre locations, including
eleven in central London such as Westminster Hotels and hotels near Marble Arch. With a selection of restaurants and a choice of excellent health and leisure
facilities, Thistle has something to offer everyone.
Thistle Hotels is the first hotel group to achieve Hospitality Assured
accreditation, across its entire UK portfolio. Created by the Institute of
Hospitality, the Hospitality Assured standard measures the quality within customer
facing businesses across the hospitality, tourism and leisure industry.
PR Contact:
Kymberly Hill
Head of Public Relations
Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited
Corporate Office
PO Box 909
Bath Road
Uxbridge
UB8 9FH
020 78686 322
www.thistle.com
Back to previous page
Home page
Submit your press release