Excellence Awards Visit Britain

[joyful]

The good thing about this forum is that VB really do seem to read it and take note - having raised the issue of B&Bs using their cars as taxis (which is illegal unless licenced)I was very pleased to see that then guidance notes were forthcoming from VB.

So, with that in mind, I hope that "The Powers that Be" read this as well.

The winners of the 2009/10 Excellence Awards in the B&B/Guest Accommodation categories were truly amazing. Stupendous places.

However, what hope has a humble 4 star silver award I ask myself, despite being covered in certificates for nearly everything I can possibly get and ticked many boxes in customer care courses and the such like?

Last years winners tended to have a lot of rooms 7 - 11, an alchol licence and restaurant for evening meals - one even had a weddings licence. Such larger establishments would probably have staff and even a chef me thinks? Not Mr & Mrs . Average B&B owner running their own joint

I have always been led to believe by my VB assessors over the years that a B&B is up to 3 rooms and that 4 rooms and over is either a Guest House or Guest Accommodation -Business Rates take that view).

South West Tourism has a "B&B" category but again last year's finalists were magnificent establishments far beyond what anyone could possibly categorise as "B&B" -I think most of last years local winners in the B&B category were with restaurants, quite a few rooms up to 11 in fact.

Perhaps the Excellence Awards might like to consider a category for 3,4,5, stars as well to give everyone something to aim for? If the sponsorship would run to that? Also a category for "B&B" specificially up to 3 rooms Also a category for Guest Accommodation/Guest House 4 rooms and over certainly and a specific category for restaurants with rooms. Perhaps a "Luxury Guest Accommodation" even?

At least that way, in my opinion, it would be a more fair playing field and everyone could have a chance at entering a part of the competition and not feel that its all totally out of their league as they don't have a country mansion, alcohol licence, wedding venue and restaurant. Since when did yer average B&B have a restaurant - that surely must fall into a different category all together. I think most people's perception of a B&B is a cottage with up to 3 rooms and Mrs. Bloggins with her pinny standing in a rose covered porch. Yes, things have moved on, but surely there is room in the Excellence Awards for everyone to feel their are competing on a fair playing field?

So, VB, Mr. Moderator and everyone else, your opinions please.

[Sue: White Horse Walking Holidays]

Good points. I always thought a B&B had up to 3 or 4 rooms, then became a guest house, so was surprised that there were so many larger establishments on that '3 in a Bed' TV programme. Surely a B&B is by definition accommodation provided in someone's home. Meaning a homely sort of place, not some sort of palace!

(I have 2 to 3 rooms in a modern house, wisteria rather than roses around the door, and only wear an apron when cooking breakfast!)

[joyful]

Thank you for your reply Sue. Let's hope VB take our points on board and open up a more wide selection of categories for all star gradings and size! With business rates 4 rooms puts one into Guest House and is therefore rateable. Up to 3 you are not liable for Business Rates. Pip Pip.

[Der Alte Fritz]

I think the defination lies in the 2009/10 Excellence Awards in the B&B/Guest Accommodation. You are right a B&B is up to 6 rooms (?), a Guest House is a larger establishment but usually offers a wider range of services such as evening meals and Guest Accommodation is a wider category for people who just do not fit into categories. The awards lump all this lot in together, so you really are comparing chalk and cheese.

But that is the name of the game. Our establishment is often in awards competing with small B+Bs but we have 10 rooms (soon to be 13) and are in reality a small boutique hotel. But we are in a 600 year old building that does not meet many of the modern grading requirments and so we are classed as 4 star Guest Accommodation. The skills and effort running an establishment of this size are completely different to that of the small B+B owner. I have around 8 part time staff and 4 part time chefs and an eye watering mortgage and yes we do weddings - got one this weekend complete with marquee!

We were finalists in the Tourism South East for that year and got Silver. Really pleased about that - the winners were a 3 room Bed and Breakfast. How unfair is that, we do all that work and they do not even provide afternoon teas, let alone dinner!

But seriously, the awards dinner was nice at Wentworth Golf Club but the awards were legion and went on for hours. Do we really need more categories???

The range of properties in the UK is so wide that any categorisation is going to disadvantage someone, I know 10 bed houses that just do B+B and I know 3 bed houses that do dinners, afternoon teas and even weddings. How do you categorise them?

[joyful]

Thank you De Alte Fritz on being on the other side of the coin so to speak! Equally as irritating I should imagine. As you so rightly say, chalk and cheese. I have since gathered on the grape vine (not sure if this is correct but might be due to Government cut backs) that South West Tourism is being disbanded next year or soon after so quite what will come in the form of any awards comps in the South West at all thereafter. Well done you on getting into the finals.

[VisitEngland_Feedback_]

Thank you for your comments.

The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year category covers all types of Guest Accommodation including Farmhouses, B&Bs, Inns, and Restaurant with Rooms, Guesthouses and other types of Guest Accommodation. The category is judged on the high standard of accommodation and customer care provided in a homely and friendly atmosphere. For this category, all properties with a VisitEngland 1 to 5 Star rating or 1 - 5 Star rating with the AA can enter. A VisitEngland Gold or Silver Award or the equivalent grade and accolade awarded by the AA i.e. Yellow Stars are preferable but not essential. The categories are designed to 'catch all' who wish to enter.

The aim of the Excellence Awards is to showcase our participants that go the extra mile in all aspects of customer service and business development. We ask questions about key areas such as training where staff is provided and how a business is kept competitive.

If we create too many award categories there is a danger that there will not be enough participants to have a full regional spread. There are so many potential categories that could be added to the awards which have time implications, increase judging and assessments, not to mention the length of time spent at the regional and national award ceremonies.

There is now though an opportunity to look at the awards afresh and your comments will certainly be taken on board.

[joyful]

Thank you for this VB reply and I hope members can see that VB do read our comments on line in the forum which can only breed good vibes all round. I hope when the awards are looked at afresh B&B will match the grading system by VB. B&B 3 rooms, Guest Accommodation 4+, and Restaurants with rooms as categories which might lead to a fairer playing field. I am glad my comments have been read by VB.

[richardfreer]

Only wear an apron when cooking breakfast - you must get a lot of takers for your breakfasts!!

Seriously, we have long held the view that that the VB awards are useful and demonstrate a level of independently-assessed quality that guests can recognise. However, there are so many inconsistencies in not only the criteria against which we are judged, but also the interpretations placed upon those criteria by the local assessors. We are hoping for 4* silver at next assessment, but reading responses to these posts leaves me wondering if it is worth the bother, and if so, to which interpretation we aim!

[_monet208]

Yes, but you can only go that extra mile if you are backed up by sufficient staff and especially finance - that is generated by having MORE ROOMS
It tells a tale when your reply mentions that one key area of judging is staff training - ....have you come out from behind your desk recently and visited a small B&B because many of us are owner run with no staff !!
Come on VB stop prevaricating and give the small B&B,s a chance - (actually go out and see a regional awards event where there are more than enough participants for extra categories)....after all, actions matter more than words

Thank you for your comments.

The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year category covers all types of Guest Accommodation including Farmhouses, B&Bs, Inns, and Restaurant with Rooms, Guesthouses and other types of Guest Accommodation. The category is judged on the high standard of accommodation and customer care provided in a homely and friendly atmosphere. For this category, all properties with a VisitEngland 1 to 5 Star rating or 1 - 5 Star rating with the AA can enter. A VisitEngland Gold or Silver Award or the equivalent grade and accolade awarded by the AA i.e. Yellow Stars are preferable but not essential. The categories are designed to 'catch all' who wish to enter.

The aim of the Excellence Awards is to showcase our participants that go the extra mile in all aspects of customer service and business development. We ask questions about key areas such as training where staff is provided and how a business is kept competitive.

If we create too many award categories there is a danger that there will not be enough participants to have a full regional spread. There are so many potential categories that could be added to the awards which have time implications, increase judging and assessments, not to mention the length of time spent at the regional and national award ceremonies.

There is now though an opportunity to look at the awards afresh and your comments will certainly be taken on board.

[freddy1]

why is that the criteria is done on number of rooms? Surely it should be number of beds. You could have 3 bedrooms but have 3 beds (a double and single) in 2 rooms and a double in the other totalling 8 guests, against 3 bedrooms with 2 being doubles and 1 being a single equalling 5 guests in total. So the amount of guests you can accommodate is certainly not indicated by the number of bedrooms you have. Our house is our home, it's an old farmhouse; we let out 2 doubles, 1 twin and a single but not extensions were made to accommodate this - it's just big 300+ year old farmhouse. We go with guest accommodation but are in fact only offering B&B. i do all the cooking and cleaning and the accounting...did try to hire a cleaner but took twice as long so not worth it.

[imported_]

Would it not be appropriate given that cleanliness is a top priority for guests, to introduce an award for those of us who have achieved 100% in our assessments? For many guests, it is far more important than the quality of breakfast.