In this episode of the Untangling Tourism Tech podcast, Fabienne Wintle and Liz Ward share valuable insights into the tourism awards process, focusing on tips from experienced judges. The episode provides guidance on how businesses, big or small, can not only participate but excel in these prestigious awards.
Top Tips from Former Judges:
- Start Early and Be Thorough:
- One of the key pieces of advice from judges is to begin preparing at least a year in advance. Gather data and evidence of your successes, such as marketing performance, customer reviews, and operational improvements. Don’t leave it until the last minute.
- Prioritise Customer Experience:
- According to judges, 20% of your score is based on your online reputation. Businesses need to maintain a strong rating on platforms like TripAdvisor and Google, with at least 25 reviews in the qualifying period. If your ratings aren’t consistently above 4 out of 5, you need to focus on enhancing your guest experience.
- Planning is Crucial:
- Even small businesses must demonstrate a solid business plan. Judges expect you to align your goals with regional or state tourism strategies. Innovation should be linked directly to these goals, showing your business is forward-thinking, not just reactive.
- Back Your Marketing with Evidence:
- Judges emphasise that successful submissions provide solid evidence of well-planned and executed marketing strategies. Use tools like Google Analytics to demonstrate the impact of your marketing efforts, showing that your decisions are data-driven and tie back to your business goals.
- Innovation and Sustainability are Key:
- It’s important to highlight your innovations and sustainable practices. Judges look for businesses that adapt to market trends, including inclusivity and environmental responsibility. Don’t just talk about what you’ve done—show examples with before-and-after photos and data.
- Leverage Judges’ Feedback:
- Even if you don’t win, entering the awards provides an opportunity to receive invaluable feedback. Judges recommend using this feedback to improve your business for future submissions, making you stronger each time you enter.
Pro Tip: Even if you’re not ready to submit, downloading the submission guidelines can guide your business strategy for the following year. This will help you align your operations with the excellence standards expected in tourism awards.
This episode is essential listening for tourism operators aiming to take their business to the next level through the pursuit of excellence.
