Greater Accra Regional Tourism Awards slated for March 27

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Accra, March 12, GNA – The 2019 Greater Accra Regional
Tourism Awards has been slated for March 27 to honour stakeholders in the
hospitality industry who have distinguished themselves, Mr Charles Obeng, the
Regional Manager of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), has said.

The theme for the award is: “Growing Tourism Beyond the
Return”.

A five-member jury chaired by Mr Obeng has been constituted
to select the award winners in the various categories; the other members are:
Dr Evelyn Addison-Akotoye, Lecturer at the Department of Tourism and
Hospitality, University of Cape Coast; and Mr Francis Ameyibor, Deputy News
Editor, Ghana News Agency.

Others are: Mr Shine Dela Gowonu, Senior Quality Asurance
Officer, GTA Greater Accra; and Mr Awuku Yirenki, Executive Member, Ghana
Tourism Federation.

Mr Obeng told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that
under the accommodation category, the jury would assess both the five- and four-Star
Hotels based on the quality of services, ideal location, accommodation,
landscaping, recreational facilities and excellent cuisine.

He said the three-star hotel of the year would be assessed
based on its ideal location, excellent facility services, spectacular views,
interesting sporting and fulfilment of all statuary obligations.

Under the catering services category, Mr Obeng said
Restaurant of the year (Grade 1) would be awarded to a facility with excellent
location, ambiance, landscaping hygienic environment, very high quality of
service for fine dining; variety of international and local menu, clarity of
billing system, quality of washroom facility, and cleanliness of kitchen and
fulfilment of all statutory obligations.

Restaurant of the year Grade 2 would be awarded to
restaurants with good quality location, ambiance, landscaping; hygienic
environment, high quality of service, variety of menu, clarity of billing
system, quality of washroom facility, and cleanliness of kitchen and fulfilment
of all statutory obligations.

Restaurant of the year (Grade 3 would be awarded to
restaurants with satisfactory location, ambiance landscaping, hygienic
environment, quality service, limited menu, quality of washroom facility, and
cleanliness of kitchen and fulfilment of all statutory obligation.

Traditional Caterer of the Year ‘CHOP BAR’: Excellent
location, satisfactory state of care, hygienic environment, customer care and
satisfaction, payment of income tax, good storage facilities, provision of
washroom facilities, fulfillment of statutory obligation and good storage
facilities are the needed requirement.

He said Fast Food establishment of the Year, must have
excellent location, décor, ambiance and landscaping, quality of food and
service, variety of cuisine, excellent customer care, and cleanliness of
kitchen and fulfillment of all statutory obligations

Drinking Bar of the Year, must also have excellent location
and décor, wide variety of drinks, professional service delivery from staff,
high maintenance and cleaning standards and fulfilment of all statutory
obligations.

He said Night Club/Pub of the Year, should be well patronised
with good décor, high level of security, professional bar service and good
customer orientation of staff.

“Offshore/Airline Catering Establishment of the Year, would
be given an establishment that offers offshore/airline catering services in an
environment that meets industry standard locally and globally.”

The Consistent Payment of Tourism Levy of the Year- Catering
is for establishments that consistently and timeously paid the one percent
Tourism Levy collected from clients into the designated Levy accounts at the
selected banks and should be selected with consultation with the Tourism Levy
Secretariat.

Mr Obeng said under the travel services, Airline of the Year
(Tourism Promotion) would be given to any airline that progressively supported
the promotion and development of tourism in Ghana.

Tour Operator of the Year: “excellent package” would be for
operators offering excellent, consistency in service delivery, committed to
marketing and promotion of travel and tourism in Ghana, pre-packaged tour,
sight-seeing and guided tours.

He said Travel Agency of the Year is open to all operators
that exhibit consistency in service delivery committed to marketing and
promotion of travel and tourism in Ghana.

Mr Obeng said Car Rental Services of the Year, would be given
to operators delivering vehicle rental services for business, pleasure and
exhibiting excellent professionalism timeliness and great customer services.

Tour Guide of the Year, would be awarded to an individual
operator with proficiency and knowledge of Ghana’s Tourist Product, excellent
appearance outlook, character and behaviour, good communication and interpersonal
skills, tour management skills.

Site Guide of the Year is for Proficiency and knowledge of
Ghana’s tourist products, excellent outlook, character, behaviour and
creativity, dedication to duty, good communication and interpersonal skills.

Visitor Attraction of the Year, would be award to a facility
with splendid scenery, cultural enrichment, friendliness of the staff,
excellent guide services, facilities for dinning, accommodation and good
sanitation are the needed requirements. Healthy/Safety disability (physically
challenged) volume (visitation volumes).

He said the Tourism Writer of the Year award would be for
both journalists and writers who demonstrate an on-going commitment to the
development and promotion of tourism in Ghana.

Tourism Oriented Media (Television, Radio, Print, and Online)
is for the media house that actively promotes tourism, while the Tourism
Programme of the Year would be given to a broadcast organisation that actively
promotes tourism.

Honorary awards, he said, would also be given to recognize
those who have made outstanding contributions to the tourism industry in Ghana.

GNA