University wins national hospitality award

The University of St Andrews has become the first University in Scotland to win a national hospitality award in honour of its outstanding service to students and other groups.

Following an assessment earlier this year, Residential and Business Services have been awarded the Hospitality Assured award which will be officially presented to the team on Monday 13 November 2000.

Residential and Business Services are responsible for providing catering and residential accommodation throughout the University. The unit, serviced by nearly 400 staff, comprises of 13 residences, a central catering unit and a central office, with the residences accommodating up to 3200 students and serving 5500 meals daily. In addition to the student community, the unit also deals with commercial customers including conference groups, holiday-makers and even weddings.

The Hospitality Assured initiative has been developed by the Hotel and Catering International Management Association, the industry’s professional body and is being promoted in partnership with the British Hospitality Association, the industry’s national trade association. The standard consists of 12 key areas aligned to 30 indicators which set the minimum standards for service excellence, measuring everything from training and resources to business goals and service delivery.

Director of Residential and Business Services Roger Smith believes that the award, which complements and extends the unit’s Investors in People status, is a great credit to staff – “The resounding comment made by the independent assessment team was that the loyalty and high standards of customer service demonstrated by the staff represented the most important asset of the organisation. We are delighted that the dedication of all our staff has been publicly acknowledged in this way.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS – You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to Lower College Hall, St Salvator’s Quad, North Street, St Andrews at 10.30am on Monday 13 November 2000 when Roger Smith, Director of Residential and Business Services will be presented with a commemorative plaque and certificate by Jennifer Bryson of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association.

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or email [email protected] Ref: hospitality/standrews/chg/9nov2000