New Global Award for Excellent Service in the Hotel Industry New Initiative Welcomed by Hoteliers

The Ultimate Service Award, a new global award that recognises and rewards good service in the hotel industry, was launched today.

The Award is an independent initiative in partnership with CNN Partner Hotels, American Express and Taylor Nelson Sofres Hospitality and Leisure. The concept of the award is backed by a supervisory panel of the world's top global hoteliers*. The award is aimed at acknowledging hotels and their employees that go out of their way to ensure their customers' visits are memorable and enjoyable.

From October 2001 to January 2002, business and leisure travellers around the world are invited to vote for the hotel that they believe offers exceptional levels of service. Consumers can vote for any type of hotel - city or resort, budget or luxury, large or small. The award will be run across nine regions: Asia, Indian sub-continent/Ocean, Asia, Australasia/Pacific Europe, Middle East, Africa, North America, South America and Central America/Caribbean,.

The winners will be announced in March 2002 at the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin. Only one hotel from each of the regions will receive the accolade of the Ultimate Service Award 2002 and a commemorative plaque created by Villeroy and Boch.

Results will be compiled by the global hospitality and leisure team of marketing information company, Taylor Nelson Sofres.

"The deciding difference between hotels is the attention that employees give to guests", says David Michels, CEO of the Hilton Group. "Hotels are probably the only product in the world where pure service not only makes a difference but genuinely enhances the value of the purchase".