9th March 2010
Categories: What's New
Sunderland's National Glass Centre (NGC) is celebrating with a top tourism award.
The Wearside attraction, which is 12 years old in June, has been recognised for its excellent customer service and commitment to delivering a quality visitor experience, by being awarded the Enjoy England accreditation of Quality Assured Visitor Attraction.
It's the tenth consecutive year that NGC has been granted this status as part of the annual Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS).
As well as praising NGC on many of its current facilities, the assessment also provided independent feedback and plans for how the venue can continue to improve its services to visitors.
Cath Hindle (pictured here left) with Ruth Hall of NGC said: "The National Glass Centre should be very proud of what they have achieved. VAQAS accreditation is not easy to come by and requires attractions to have a real dedication to delivering the highest standards of customer service and quality across all aspects of their business".
Remind yourself of Quality Assured and the different assessment schemes that exist to help tourism businesses assure customers of quality experiences.
2009 NE Access for All Tourism Award winner
2009 NE Business Tourism Award Winner
2009 NE Outstanding Customer Service Tourism Award winner
2009 NE Sustainable Tourism Award winner
2009 NE Taste of England Gold Award winner
Access for All Tourism Award application form 2010
Best Tourism Experience Tourism Award 2010
Caravan Park and Holiday Village application form 2010
Guest Accommodation Tourism Award application form 2010
Large Hotel of the Year Tourism Award 2010 (over 35 beds)
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Tourism Award
Outstanding Customer Service Award 2010
Self Catering Holidays Tourism Award 2010
Small Hotel Tourism Award 2010 (under 50 beds)
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award (under 50,000 visitors)
Sustainable Tourism Award 2010
Taste of England Award 2010
Tourism Event of the Year 2010
Tourist Information Centre of the Year 2010
Accessibility Case Study of how the Discovery Museum, South Tyneside became 'accessible for all'.
Accessibility Case Study of how the Tom Keating, blue badge guide and tour services provider, became 'accessible for all'.
Accessibility Case Study of how the Locomotion Museum, Shildon became 'accessible for all'.
Access case study for The Hytte self-catering property.
Business Tourism Award 2010
An Excel spreadsheet for analysing your customers by age, income, interest and origins
2009 NE Large Hotel of the Year Award Winner
A new guide for tourism businesses from VisitBritain that looks at easy, practical and low-costs ways to improve the accessibility of your businesses.
Hints & Tips for entering 2010 NE Tourism Awards
Hospitality Assured is the quality assurance standard from the Institute of Hospitality. Download this flyer to find out how this customer-focussed standard can help you improve your services and win more custom.
National Accessible Scheme Leaflet 2010/2011
An Excel spreadsheet for analysing your business and planning to improve quality. Includes examples of areas, topics and points to consider and the first section has been filled out as an example.
This factsheet introduces the Disability Discrimination Act and explains the implications for your business. It helps you understand how to successfully comply with the Act, where to get more information and sources of help.