The Victoria Hospitality Awards Committee (VHAP) recently recognized Jen Atwater of Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke and Lee Britton of Best Western Plus Inner Harbour.
Jen Atwater
Jen Atwater’s nomination came from a visitor who was in town to attend a women’s rugby tournament. The nominator’s nephew, a visitor from England, was also visiting the area but was staying downtown at the Harbour Towers.
After the rugby tournament, the nominator wanted to meet her nephew and have dinner with him, which meant arranging transportation for him so he could get back to his hotel in Victoria from Sooke. Jen said she could arrange a taxi and provided a discount coupon for $10.
“When it was time for our nephew to leave, we asked to arrange the taxi. Jen said that she was leaving shortly, and since she lived close to the Harbour Towers, she could drive him to the hotel. How terrific was that!” writes the nominator. “…She was doing [my nephew] an extreme favour — she didn’t live in downtown Victoria but in Langford. This trip was well out of her way and showed extreme hospitality and caring for visitors and guests.
“The management of the hotel have a valuable member of their team. As such we will recommend the Prestige Oceanfront Resort. It is a beautiful location but that pales in comparison to the service delivered by the hotel associates.”
Lee Britton
Lee Britton’s nomination came from his General Manager at Best Western Plus Inner Harbour, Thaylin Parrish.
In August, an elderly couple visiting from South Carolina arrived in Victoria via the Clipper. The elderly woman, referred to as Mrs. P, felt wobbly after the ferry ride and her husband arranged a wheelchair to get her off the clipper. He was unsure of how to get his wife to the hotel in the wheelchair, and walked to the hotel to explain the situation.
“Mr. P explained the situation to Lee and Lee immediately called a cab for them both to go back to the terminal. They got Mrs. P into the cab and back to our hotel — and Lee paid for this taxi himself! Lee [transferred] Mrs. P to our lobby computer chair with wheels, and rolled her into the elevator and up to the room! Make a note: he rolled her backwards so she would not tip off the chair,” writes Parrish.
“This lovely couple was so grateful…This is typical of our Lee. He truly provides heroic hospitality.”
About the Victoria Hospitality Award program
The Victoria Hospitality Award program was founded in 1994. A not-for-profit society was formed with a mandate to recognize individuals from the Greater Victoria area for outstanding hospitality. Outstanding hospitality is defined as a random act of kindness that goes over and above the expected to meet the needs of an individual.
Committee members meet monthly to review ballots received and to select a winner. Monthly winners are presented with a signed Victoria Hospitality Award Program certificate, a letter of commendation, a City of Victoria pin engraved with the winner’s name, and numerous other gifts from Committee members representing various sectors of our community. The Society hosts a Special Event annually to honour all nominees and monthly winners.
Nomination ballots are found online with Tourism Victoria at: www.tourismvictoria.com/vha and on website: www.victoriahospitalityawards.com
