Puerto Rico improves quality of products and services for visitors
Hotels recognized as top tourism facilities for their excellence and product quality
San Juan, Puerto Rico (April 4, 2007) - Executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), Terestella González Denton, announced that one of the agency’s priorities for this year is to search for, together with the hotel industry, excellence in quality and service offered by accommodations and tourism services within the tourism industry in Puerto Rico.
The executive director expressed her remarks during the celebration of the Quality Awards 2007 event, which is known as the most important activity of recognition on the island. This event acknowledges and pays tribute to members of the tourism industry whom last year provided tourists with high excellence in services and products categorized within the highest quality standards.
“This event is part of PRTC’s commitment to position the island as a high-quality tourist destination and first-choice destination in the Caribbean. It promotes survey programs that evaluate our services and elevates our products to international hotel industry standards,” stated González Denton. “I would like to extend an invitation to all tourism activity sectors – accommodations, tour guides, commercial companies and the municipality – to join forces and create their own voluntary self-management programs in favour of quality and higher standards.”
The Ritz Carlton hotel on Isla Verde received PRTC’s highest recognition award, the Mejor de los Mejores (Best of the Best). At the awards event, more than 75 members of the industry – among accommodation facilities, tourism service providers, and others – were nominated with 38 acknowledged for their contribution to tourism and 22 hotel properties awarded for their excellence in the quality of products and services they offer. In addition, for the second consecutive year, PRTC awarded special recognitions to members of the industry who have contributed heavily towards the economic development of the island, with awards such as Apoyo al de Aquí, Impulso 100 X 35 and Disfruta lo Nuestro.
Apoyo al de Aquí, an award that recognizes a local company who has invested significantly in hotel development and human capital, was awarded to the Fajardo Inn and Hotel Guajataca.
Impulso 100 x 35, an award that recognizes businesses who have privately invested a significant amount to tourism development and who have the greatest workforce towards this development, was awarded to LXR Luxury Resorts and Interlink.
Disfruta lo Nuestro, an award provided to an accommodation facility with the greatest number of tourist excursions and activities that promote Puerto Rico’s traditions and culture, was awarded to Horned Dorset Primavera and its manager José S Babilonia.
“These well-deserved recognitions are a sign of our gratitude for promoting the quality of life of Puerto Rican families, creating more and improved job opportunities, and also, investing in the development of the hotel industry and in other diverse activities that encourage our culture,” said González Denton.
The awardees for Best Overall from each category included Hotel Passion Fruit as the best one-star hotel, the Best Western San Juan Airport Hotel & Casino as the best two-star hotel, the Embassy Suite Dorado del Mar as the best three-star hotel, the Ritz Carlton as the best four-star hotel, the Parador El Buen Café as the best motel and the Pasión por El Fogón as the best gastronomic inn.
Within the Services category, awards in the areas of Reception, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, and Consistency in Service were awarded.
The awards for best Reception within their respective stars were given to The Pineapple Inn, Ceiba Country Inn, Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort and the Ritz Carlton.
The awardees for best Food and Beverage were Casa Isleña Inn, San Juan Water & Beach Club Hotel (The Water Club), Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort (by Marriott), The Horned Dorset Primavera and Pasión por El Fogón.
The awardees for best Housekeeping were Passion Fruit, Ceiba Country Inn, Embassy Suites Hotel & Casino, Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real and the Ritz Carlton.
The awardees for best Consistency in Service were Ceiba Country Inn, Embassy Suites Dorado del Mar Beach & Golf Resort, Embassy Suites Hotel & Casino and the Ritz Carlton.
Within the Facilities Inspection category, the awardees within accommodations were Dos Ángeles del Mar, Passion Fruit, Best Western San Juan Airport Hotel & Casino, Courtyard by Marriott, El San Juan Hotel & Casino, and within gastronomic inns, Daniel Sea Food.
Within the Infrastructure Maintenance category, awardees were Passion Fruit, Best Western San Juan Airport Hotel & Casino, Club Bon-Accord, Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort (by Marriott), Four Points by Sheraton, Palmas del Mar, San Juan Marriott Resort, San Juan Hotel & Casino and the Ritz Carlton.
The award for Suggestion Card Participation, which recognizes a hotel property that has participated heavily in the use of guest suggestion cards and who collects on a monthly basis all information and measures their clients’ opinions, was awarded to Torres de la Parguera.
Two special recognitions were awarded for worldwide exposure and promotion, positioning Puerto Rico high in the ranks, to Horned Dorset Primavera and Parador Hacienda Juanita.
“It makes me proud to recognize hotel partners and the businesses that have made our destination top quality this year. Their contribution places us vanguard in the Caribbean. Their efforts and commitment strengthens economic development and positions our island as one with high quality,” expressed González Denton. “I would like to congratulate everyone for their commitment to excellence and the continuous improvements to our tourism offerings. You all are the best and deserve a round of applause and support from all sectors within this industry.”
This year the agency evaluated approximately 200 hotel properties and tourism services on the island, with strict internationally known survey methods and inspection visits that took place five times per year. Every hotel property competed according to the number of guest rooms in five categories: large hotel properties with 300 plus rooms, medium hotel properties with 75 to 299 rooms, hotel properties with two to 75 rooms, hotel properties that belong to the Paradores of Puerto Rico program, and restaurants that belong to the Mesones Gastronómicos program.
For more information about the resorts featured above, you can also see their listings under Puerto Rico – Accommodations at www.caribbean.com.
Visit www.caribbean.com for your free on-line Puerto Rico travel guide.
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