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Bude Tourist Information Centre receives Gold Award for best TIC in Cornwall 2008
Last Thursday evening, the Bude Tourist Information Centre (TIC) was awarded the coveted “Gold Award” in the category “Best Tourist Information Centre in Cornwall ” at the Visit Cornwall Tourism Awards ceremony. These awards, which have over 15 categories, are handed out every year to the very best of the best in tourism !
The event, which was held at the Headland Hotel in Newquay, offered fantastic food, a lovely atmosphere and a great line-up of guest speakers taking the guests through the evening. Hilariously witty Ruby Wax and Daphne Skinnard (BBC Radio Cornwall) definitely added that extra sparkle to the whole occasion.
Birgit Dell, Manager of the Bude Tourist Information Centre, said: “Listening to the nominations for “Best Tourist Information Centre” was nerve racking for us. We had been short-listed for the past two years, out of 24 TICs in Cornwall , but never quite made it into the top three. Looe TIC and Bodmin Visitor Centre (who have won gold in past years) were the other two finalists. As Looe TIC was announced as the bronze winner, it was between Bodmin and Bude for the gold and silver awards. Both starting with a B, Daphne Skinnard made a bit of a point of it, by drawing out the B, before announcing Bodmin had won silver. Once the silver was revealed, our table broke out into a roar of applause. We had got the gold!”
“We have worked extremely hard to get to the top. A TIC mystery shopping programme consists of two emails, two phone calls and one visit to the TIC. The list of services and attributes that are tested is long and rigorous. Response times, disabled access, layout, friendliness, accuracy, professionalism, even the range of gifts and postcards that you sell are assessed. Weird and wonderful “extra services” such as ringing off after the caller, whether you go the extra mile without being prompted, it's all in there. We scored “excellent” in every category.“
“Winning this award wouldn't have been possible without the wonderful people we have in our team. Working in a TIC can be hectic and extremely stressful. The team in Bude, Penny, Anne and Caroline not only managed to keep up their already extremely high customer service levels, but actually exceeded all expectations. My special thanks goes to them, they are the stars!”
Tourism Officer for North Cornwall Steve Kessell congratulated Bude on their winning ways “ Birgit and the staff in Bude Tourist Information Centre are worthy winners of this special accolade. Over a long period they have raised their game and improved the service beyond recognition, and all this during a period or major refurbishment of the office . When the new, exciting revamped Bude TIC and Canal Interpretation Centre opens later this year, North Cornwall, Bude and the members of Bude Area Tourist Board can be sure that Birgit and her team will keep up the Gold Standard service for visitors and residents alike”.
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