http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk - News Articles en-GB Copyright Tourism Business Toolkit Tourism Business Toolkit News Tourism Business Toolkit 60 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:41:18 GMT http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/7/27/hospitality-apprenticeship-awards-2011-a3570 The Hospitality Apprenticeship Awards 2011 are now open. Now in their second year, the Awards recognise practical skills, competence and achievement from each of the different work areas in hospitality, including professional food preparation and cookery, restaurant service, licensed hospitality, housekeeping, reception, portering and concierge, customer service and team leading.  The Awards were launched in 2010 and include three categories: Hospitality Apprentice of t Quality%20Assurance Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/6/24/young-chef-young-waiter-competition-enter-now-a3520 The Restaurant Association's Young Chef Young Waiter competition launched on 25 May with awards in three new skills categories for both chefs and waiters. The new waiter awards are: - Best Barista - Best wine knowledge - Best cheese knowledge The new chef awards are: - Best original dish - Best dessert - Best kitchen craft Organised by the British Hospitality Association and The Restaurant Association, Young Chef Young Waiter is the premier competition for aspiring young talen Quality%20Assurance Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/6/2/the-search-is-on-a3487 Once again, the search is on for the most successful hotels, hoteliers and hotel employees across the UK. Now into their fifth year, the Hotel Cateys celebrate excellence across all layers of management and operations in the hotel sector.  They are the hotel industry's only truly independent benchmark of operational excellence. Categories include: Front of House Manager of the Year Award,  Hotel Restaurant Team of the Year Award, Housekeeper of the Year Award and Green Hotel of the Y Quality%20Assurance Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/4/4/sponsor-a-2011-tourism-award-there-are-3-different-packages-a3418 The North East England Tourism Awards showcase the best that tourism has to offer in the region and are an opportunity for North East tourism businesses to achieve the recognition they deserve. Entries for the 2011 regional awards are now open.  There are 15 different categories for different types of tourism businessses, as well as awards that celebrate individuals, i.e. 'outstanding customer service', and 'sustainability', i.e. 'Sustainable Tourism', Why not sponsor one of these 2011 aw Quality%20Assurance Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/3/23/record-number-of-entries-for-rics-renaissance-awards-a3410 A record 80 entries have been received for this year's RICS North East Renaissance Awards which recognise excellence in the North East's property, land, construction and related environmental sectors. David Furniss, head of the RICS North East Renaissance Awards judging panel said: "We're delighted that this year's awards are already proving to be a success. While the projects take a starring role, it is really the skills, effort and quality of the people behind each one that we celebrate Quality%20Assurance Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/2/25/celebrating-eating-out-in-the-north-east-a3385 The Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year Award recognises excellence and good service at restaurants, pubs and cafes throughout the UK. Nominations are now open for the 2011 Awards and you are invited to nominate your favourite, independently owned establishments, preferably those that offer regional dishes and local produce. You have until 29 April 2011 to vote for your favourite eating-out establishment in the North East.  Encourage your visitors to vote too! Submit your no Quality%20Assurance Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2011/2/6/visitenglands-official-response-regarding-star-ratings-a3364 You may well have read or heard coverage in the national media recently regarding the future of the star ratings scheme. Below is James Berresford's, VisitEngland's chief executive, comment in response to the media coverage: “We are committed to ensuring visitors experience the best quality on offer in this country. As long as the national Quality Assessment Scheme remains beneficial to the industry, VisitEngland will continue to support it and ensure that it evolves to meet the n Quality%20Assurance Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/12/20/visitengland-launches-a-new-free-online-access-statement-tool-a3322 VisitEngland has today launched a new online tool aimed at helping businesses cater better for visitors with access needs.  VisitEngland spearheaded the creation of the Access Statement - a straightforward description of a businesses's services and facilities aimed at visitors with access needs.  These are things like: - support rails in showers - clear signage - areas for assistance dogs - ground floor rooms available They have now Quality%20Assurance Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/12/8/ruined-coastline-wins-landscape-title-a3311 A major landscaping project to regenerate an area of Durham coastline once ruined by the coal industry has become the first to scoop the title of UK Landscape of the Year, and goes forward to compete in the finals of the European awards next March. The Durham Heritage Coast between Hartlepool and Sunderland was once known as the Black Beaches following a century of tipping coal, sludge, sewage waste and colliery spoil onto the coastline from nearby coalmines.  A 15 year regeneration progr Quality%20Assurance Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/12/6/has-your-business-got-something-to-shout-about-a3301 Then enter the NE Business Awards 2010 - there are ten separate award categories and there's bound to be a category that suits your business. Have you launched a new product?  Have you enjoyed success exporting?  Have you been active in the community?  Have you contributed to improving the environment?  Or have you just had a good year? Here is the full list of categories: - Company of the Year - Corporate Responsibility & Environment Award - Export Award - Innovati Quality%20Assurance Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/10/15/your-chance-to-shine-in-hotel-excellence-a3231 Entries are now being invited from the UK and Eire into this year's HRS Hotel Excellence Awards 2011. These awards are one of the Best Practice Forum's Business Excellence Awards and are now in their fourth successful year.  It's your chance to have oustanding achievement and business excellence nationally recognised and rewarded. It's easy to enter.  If you are a small or large hotel, or a meetings venue (for the Excellence in Meetings category), all you have to do is focus on  Quality%20Assurance Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/10/4/kids-in-museums-needs-your-help-a2704 Earlier this year we told you about the Kids in  Museums Manifesto and the work 'Kids in Museums' is doing to support museums and galleries up and down the country with their family-friendly policies. In March we asked our North East museum, galleries and visitor attractions for help with completing a 'family ticket watch' survey to help 'Kids in Museums' shape their family ticket guidelines. 'Kids in Museums' is hungry for your input again! Lots of families have told Quality%20Assurance Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/9/7/visitengland-launch-new-quality-scheme-a2679 VisitEngland has recently launched its prestigious new national Places of Interest Quality Assurance Scheme (PIQAS).  PIQAS has been developed to provide a number of tools for operators of smaller visitor attractions and places of interest to enhance quality and spread best practice within the sector. The scheme provides 'places of interest' with a recognised stamp of approval whether they are volunteer-run, charity organisations, unmanned sites or natural features of the l Quality%20Assurance Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/8/27/dont-miss-the-awards-ceremony-of-the-year-a2665 Applications for this year's North East England Tourism Awards are now being considered, and finalists will be announced at a glittering ceremony on: Tuesday, 12 October 2010 in the Grand Marquee at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham These awards celebrate the best that tourism has to offer in our region and finalists will go on to compete in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. Make sure you book early.  Tables of 10 are £500 + VAT. To book a table: Contact: Jennifer Co Quality%20Assurance Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT News http://www.tourismbusinesstoolkit.co.uk/site/news-and-events/2010/7/5/award-winning-the-hytte-makes-national-news-a2609 Northumberland's award-winning self-catering timber accommodation 'The Hytte' has been mentioned by The Independent as one of the 'most forward-thinking of UK's tourism businesses'. Sonja and Simon Gregory 'were shocked at how few accessible properties they found while researching ahead of starting a holiday accommodation business in Northumberland'.  So they set out to 'ensure that the whole of their award-winning timber Norwegian hytte (www.thehytte.com), even the gardens and the ho Quality%20Assurance Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT News