Rewarding Outstanding Service since 1994

We believe in outstanding hospitality.

Since 1994, the Victoria Hospitality Award Program (VHAP) has encouraged outstanding hospitality by recognizing individuals, companies and associations from the Greater Victoria area that go out of their way to make visitors, and locals, feel like there's no better place to visit or live.

"Outstanding hospitality"
is best described as
a random act of kindness
that goes
above & beyond the expected
to meet the needs of an individual.

We believe in you.

VHAP believes that service excellence is the tourism and hospitality industry's greatest asset. It's because of outstanding service that visitors choose to stay longer…tell their friends…and visit us again - and that's good for our City, our Island and our Province.

"Hundreds of Victorians make unselfish acts a habit. I felt great joy and satisfaction when reading VHAP nominees' stories, selecting a winner and rewarding them for their actions."
Marilyn Philibert
Founder and Past Co-ordinator

How you can be nominated or nominate someone?

Visitors and local Victorians can nominate someone for exceptional service and warm hospitality. Here's how:

Online
At www.tourismvictoria.com/nominations.

Ballot
A postage-paid ballot is inside each issue of WHERE Victoria visitor magazine available in over 200 locations including hotels, restaurants, attractions and retail stores.

Letter
Visitors, business managers and local residents can send a letter describing the particular service performed that went over and above the expected.

Mail or fax ballots or letters to:

Victoria Hospitality Awards Program
c/o 818 Broughton Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1E4
Fax: 480-3233

An award winner.

The members and sponsors of VHAP believe that outstanding hospitality you provide deserves to be noticed.

Each month, VHAP committee members select a winner from all nominations received. The winner receives recognition and gifts from VHAP members plus a framed certificate.

The Award.

Each monthly winner is also honoured with The City of Victoria award. This special lapel pin bears the City's coat of arms and the VHAP name. It's also enscribed with the winner's name and the month of the award.

"Being recognized by my peers and the tourism industry through the Hospitality Award Program is the icing on the cake of a job I already love! I feel very proud."
Stephanie Greaves
Victoria Marine Adventure Centre
You're good news.

As a VHAP monthly winner, a picture and the story of the outstanding service will also be published in The News Group's community newspapers.

A Gala Breakfast to honour nominees, monthly winners...

The VHAP Gala Breakfast, usually held in May, is a special morning of celebration to recognize each monthly winner and all the year's nominees.

Tickets for winners and nominees are paid for by the employer. Those attending the breakfast receive the VHAP's special Star Award pin and are eligible to win great door prizes.

…and to present the G.E.M. Award.

Each year, an exceptional individual, association or company from the Greater Victoria community receives VHAP's distinctive G.E.M. Award for consistently setting an example of 'Going the Extra Mile'.

• G.E.M. actions may be exhibited through:Consistent excellent service to customers
• Encouragement and training of employees
• Dedication to the community
  

The Victoria Hospitality Award Program (VHAP) rewards individuals from the Greater Victoria area for providing outstanding hospitality.

Sponsors
City of Victoria
Hotel Association of Greater Victoria
Tourism British Columbia
Tourism Victoria
Vancouver Island News Group
WHERE Victoria Magazine

Sponsorship
The applicant commits to contribute a minimum $500 cash and/or in-kind contribution. Sponsorship entitlements and benefits are:

• Name appears on all ballots distributed in the name of the program;
• Name appears on official letterhead mainly distributed to business owners, managers and supervisors informing them of their monthly nominees;
• Name attached to promotional information given out to attendees at Trade shows;
• Recognition at the Annual Gala Breakfast with prominent placement of logo and complimentary ticket and seating;
• Opportunity to have name of association or business appear in the Victoria Weeklies in conjunction with the announcement of the monthly winner;
• Opportunity to network with representatives from varied sectors of the Greater Victoria Community
  

Members
Arts Community of Victoria
Greater Victoria Hearing Consultants
Rogers' Chocolates
Sydney Reynolds
Victoria AM
Prince Of Whales
Walkabouts Historical Tours

Membership
The Victoria Hospitality Award Society committee membership is comprised of representatives from the Greater Victoria area in the Tourism and Hospitality sectors listed below.

A person may apply to the directors for membership in the society and on acceptance by the directors is a member. Each application for membership is reviewed by the directors on an individual basis according to the society guidelines.

Recent Winners:

Past GEM Award Winners

• 2007 Jenni Hopkyns
• 2006 Downtown Victoria Ambassador Volunteers
• 2005 The Butchart Gardens
• 2004 ICA (Inter-Cultural Association) of Greater Victoria
• 2003 Dave Hutchings, Mount Douglas Secondary School
• 2002 Murray Glazer,Vision of Symphony Splash
• 2001 Cedric Stelle, CFB Esquimalt
• 2000 Bill Barkley, Royal BC Museum
• 1999 Chateau Victoria Hotel
• 1998 BC Transit
• 1997 Clarion Grand Pacific Hotel
• 1996 Victoria AM Meet & Greeters
• 1995 Victoria Harbour Ferries

For more information or to become involved contact:
Anna Scolnick, Program Chair
818 Broughton Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8W 1E4
Tel: (250) 383-3633
Fax: (250) 480-3233

All Content ©2002-2008 Copyright Tourism Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - All Rights Reserved

Duplication or reproduction of Tourism Victoria's website in any form, whether it be in whole or in part is not permitted without written consent and authorization from Tourism Victoria.

[ Site Map | Help | Privacy Policy ]