Long-standing quality assurance awards supported by industry and consumers

The regional finalists in the 2012 AA Quality Assured Accommodation Awards programme have been announced (for full list go to website). Only AA Quality Assured members are eligible to participate in this programme, which is now in its 19th year and the only established mechanism for consumers to voice their opinion about the quality of tourist accommodation in Southern Africa.

More than 61 000 consumers commented on approximately 800 establishments this year, either online, via eGuestSurv reviews, or by completing AA guest review forms.

A total of 205 regional finalists in 25 categories were announced, including guest houses, bed & breakfasts, self-catering apartments, game lodges and different types of hotels. Guests commented on aspects such as service levels, the quality of facilities, cleanliness, ambience and food.

Convenor Vanessa Sand of Essential Travel Info says all information received from guests, whether positive or negative, is sent back to participating establishments. “This assists owners or managers to improve certain aspects of their operations or to maintain existing high standards. The awards programme is therefore a very effective tool to respond to the needs of consumers and gives establishments a definite marketing edge, particularly when times are tough in the industry.”

High scoring establishments were examined carefully and were visited by qualified and experienced assessors to verify that the scores were justified.

A list of the regional finalists is available on www.accommodationawards.co.za. Regional winners will be announced later in July. These establishments will become national finalists in the different categories and compete against each other to become national winners. These winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg on 30 August.

The awards programme is supported by Essential Travel Info, BnB Sure, PG Glass and members of the Bravo Group namely Sealy Beds, Grafton Everest and Alpine Lounge.

Pictured above is last year’s winner of the Full Service Hotel category, Premier Hotel Pretoria.