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 Assurance 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, ambience, landscaping hygienic environment, very high quality of service for fine dining; a 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, ambience, 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, ambience 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, the fulfillment of statutory obligation and good storage facilities are the needed requirement.

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

Drinking Bar of the Year, must also have excellent location and décor, a 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 per cent Tourism Levy collected from clients into the designated Levy accounts at the selected banks and should be selected with a 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 dining, 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.