Blackpool Evening Gazette Article
24th August 2009

"A NEW Blackpool hoteliers
association has reached
a century in just three months".

Yes Hotels, which was set up by former hotelier Mark Smith, aims to provide a quality mark to all accommodation owners in the resort.

It was formed in May and now boasts more than 120 members across the resort.

The new association also offers free advice on how to get accreditation from regional and national schemes for those accommodation owners who cannot afford to plough thousands into their business.

Many hoteliers across the resort have chosen not to go along the star ratings guidelines due to its expense.

But the managing director of Yes Hotels told The Gazette many accommodation owners have enjoyed success in their businesses by following his companies advice.

Mr Smith added: "We believe Blackpool has a wonderful variety of good quality and value for money accommodation which can often be overlooked in the current climate of state sponsored standardisation.

"The Yes Hotels brand is specifically about showcasing these excellent and special businesses and supporting their enterprise.

"I owned and ran a hotel on Reads Avenue for six years so I know how hard it can be with so many expenses to pay out.

"The star ratings system is rather an expensive one for many owners to follow and there are other ways of improving your business without going down that route.

"Yes Hotels caters for the small, six-bedroom guest houses on the many side streets in Blackpool to the 30 or 40 bedroom hotels on the Promenade.

"We're delighted with the success we have had considering we were only set up in May."

The 100th member of Yes Hotels were hoteliers Bill and Lynne Butler who own the Jollies Hotel on Hornby Road.

Since then a further 20 have signed up to the association which has its head office on Lynwood Avenue, central Blackpool.

Mr Smith added: "The association is doing very well, as is the website which gives hoteliers help on what they can be doing to improve their businesses."

*Yes Hotels can be visited at www.yeshotels.org.uk

HOTELIERS - JOIN TODAY

Accommodation providers can join today for £9.95 membership (£29.95 pa from Jan 2010 by £7.50 per quarter by SO) plus assessment. (Note:- Assessment is not required if another approved body like VisitBritain or the AA accreditation has been valid at anytime during the same calendar year)

The accommodation for Yes Hotel membership must pass an assessment by an experienced former professional hotelier if they have no current approval from another accreditation service. This costs only £29.95 and if your hotel is clean, comfortable and friendly and meets all the appropriate legislation there is no reason why it should not be accepted!
JOIN TODAY