Shanklin Hotel & Accommodation Association

Here we are at the start of yet another holiday season. Many of our members are either taking, or have taken, a break away and are now closed whilst they carry out the essential maintenance tasks that couldn't be completed during the working season. It's also the time to refurbish rooms to give a fresh look for the coming year. The heady days of the 1950's and 60's are long gone when guests would sleep in any available room knowing that, if they didn't accept the room, there would be many more knocking on the door that would. Today's guests are more demanding in what they will accept but are prepared to pay more if the facilities meet their expectations. The grading scheme, organised by the English Tourist Board, has had to change to keep pace with the fast developing situation. The grading signs displayed outside many of our member's establishments now very, rarely use the word ‘hotel’. That is being reserved for the true hotels that offer all the facilities that you would expect of such an establishment. (Evening meal, bar, night porter etc) The smaller, family run, businesses will now carry the words 'guest house' or 'guest accommodation' on their grading signs together with a number of stars. One being the lowest grading and five the highest. The previous ‘diamonds’ are being discontinued and should disappear altogether within the next 12 months as each establishment is re-graded.

The 'coffee stop' mornings (most Wednesdays from 11 am) seem to be going from strength to strength with a number of new hotel owners joining in. For those of you not in the know it is a girls coffee morning, which provides a friendly way to catch up with what is happening within the tourism scene and to get advice on how to run your business if there is no one else you can turn to. If you run an accommodation business and would like to come along please give me a ring on 874511 to find out the next venue.

My tour of office as chairman is now coming to an end as I have sold my business in Shanklin. It is important that the chairman is within the tourism scene, for once out of it you loose touch with things surprisingly quickly. We are always on the lookout for new committee members and it doesn't take up much time (about two hours a month). If you are an accommodation provider and would like to get involved please contact me at the above number.

Peter Currie

Chairman