A family-run hotel, where the likes of Elton, Cliff Richard and members of Manchester United have stayed, has received top national honours for its high-level of customer care.
The Blunsdon House Hotel, located in The Ridge, Blunsdon, received the best venue award at the Best Western National Conference at the Celtic Manor resort near Newport, South Wales last month – to kick off a year of 50th anniversary celebrations. The accolade was based on feedback from local customers and corporate clients.
Chris Clifford, general manager, said: “This award is a huge deal for us, we have won regional prizes before but never a national one.
“It shows that we are dedicated to our customers and we don’t treat people like numbers.
“This year we were named the best out of 280 hotels meaning, our service was topped the list.
“A lot of chain hotels seem to greet their customers from a list of things to say, but we don’t and I believe we recognise that it is the smaller details that count.
“For example I have a client from Italy who likes his coffee done just right, so during his stay this year I went out and bought him an espresso maker.
“We were told that another man who stays with us every year was arriving ill this year so we managed to purchase special doctor prescribed blankets for him to make his stay more comfortable.”
Meanwhile, in America, Tourlink magazine has voted Florence, Alabama-based Senators Coach the Coach Company of the Year.
Voters include those in the coach business and people who use coach services.
Although Elton, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have been named among the company's clients, such acts don't actually travel in the buses themselves, opting for private planes.
Instead, bands, bodyguards, assistants and equipment utilise the coaches, which are hardly Spartan. Each bunk generally has its own television, and there are front and rear lounges with big-screen TVs and a sound system, and usually a small bathroom and kitchen with full-size refrigerator.
