Annual Guest Survey Results

In April 2012 the Belmore Court sent out its seventh annual guest survey to gather feedback from those who had stayed in the previous 12 months. We sent out almost 5000 surveys both online and by post. There was a geat response with more than 15% replies helping us to improve our service and facilities.

As an incentive we offered 3 x two night breaks to encourage guests to complete the information. The winners of these are:

Jacqueline Walker, Lisburn
Gwen Ross, Omagh
R Niblock, Belfast

 

It is fantastic to read that more than 98% of respondents found the booking process to be Excellent or Very Good. Comments include; Clear & Concise Information given to me, online system easy to use, Very straightforward easy-peesy, Excellent video presentation on website, Informative and friendly manner of staff who took booking was one of the deciding factors in choosing Belmore Court, Very helpful staff on reception! Their friendliness persuaded me that the Belmore would be a good choice and I was right!

 

It was a credit to the reception team that no one felt that the welcome or service at reception was poor and that 99% thought the 1^st impressions, welcome, service and booking accuracy were either very good or excellent. This is reflected in the comments; 100%. Never met a nicer girl than one at reception. Couldn't do enough to please, Made to feel very welcome - delighted with service, Excellent all round service, room, staff and night porter, Everything well organised! Great hospitality on arrival!

 

It is also a credit to the housekeeping department that 98% or guests found the cleanliness of the room to be very good or excellent. And that 96% found the maintenance with a similar breakdown of scores. Comments included; Really lovely - especially a good bed for back problems!, Magnificent, Very attractive rooms with up to date in house facilities, professionally maintained to a very high standard. A number of comments were like this one; Decor was dated, facilities in motel room substandard. As a result we have updated these rooms.

 

Continental Breakfast - It is positive to see that 95% of customer found the hosts friendly – 2 percentage point increase from last year. 95% also found the quality to be Very good or excellent – 9 percentage point increase from last year. 88% were very happy with the choice. Once again an increase – this time 13 percentage points.

99% of respondents would consider staying again with 69% definitely booking with us. (15% increase ). Disappointingly 4 people would not stay again. Comments: No complaints; Great location friendly staff; I would certainly consider staying again. Would try lodge next time; You can’t be beaten – quality & value; hoicealways.100% we will;

 

Less than 1% found our accommodation not to be value for money. Comments: Excellent value; Superb value for money; reasonably priced.

 

More than 90% of our guests felt that we achieved our Vision. Comments: Yes and have exceeded it; Good progress towards it; Excellent experience; Under promise & over deliver; Good security; Staff made it special; really enjoyed BC; Pity no bar/restaurant; Far surpassed other accommodation; Exceeded your vision; BELMORE(Best Enniskillen Leisure – More Opportunities to Relax and Enjoy.

 

Jumping for Joy!

AN eight year old boy’s take on his daddy’s business has beaten some of the most creative minds in Northern Ireland’s digital advertising industry to be short listed for a major award.

Young Lewis McCartney has become something of a star in his hometown of Enniskillen since he featured in the video to promote his dad’s business, the Belmore Court & Motel.

Father and son were both thrilled last week when the cute video viral showing Lewis giving his “lovely” guided tour of the Belmore court & Motel’s bedrooms, which has been watched by nearly 3,000 people on U Tube, was short listed in the prestigious DANI 2011 awards.

The P5 pupil’s video is up against the might of the Belfast Giants and Derry City of Culture in the Best Viral Campaign category at the awards. Visit www.motel.co.uk to see his tour of the Belmore Court.

The inaugural DANI Awards in association with Invest Northern Ireland and Chain Reaction Cycles, aims to recognise the burgeoning creative and digital online media sector in Northern Ireland.

The ceremony will take place at Belfast’s Hilton Hotel on Friday, November 11 when a  total of nine awards will be presented but it’s way past Lewis’ bedtime so he wont be able to attend.

Terry McCartney, owner of Belmore Court & Motel was thrilled that his simple, low budget promotional video had impressed judges. “We are just a small company where every pound matters and we didn’t have a big budget to blow on a video. Lewis is always in the Belmore Court and we stay overnight regularly and the kids love it. We just thought if we could capture some of his enthusiasm about staying it might be infectious.”

“We didn’t work to a script and just told him to talk and tell it in his own wee words and he did talk -  non stop. He loved doing it and especially as he got a new big piece of Lego at the end of it. He has become a bit of star now with people coming into the motel asking if he is there. He is modest but he is loving it too.”

“We are thrilled that such a small company as ours has been short listed against such large organisations.”

Belmore Court & Motel has been shortlisted in a total of three of the eight DANI Awards categories. The company is also a finalist for the Best App and Best Online Strategy awards.

Naomh McElhatton, founder of The DANI Awards said: ''The judges felt the Belmore Court & Motel fulfilled all the criteria for the category and they demonstrated an understanding of how and why a viral campaign would work for them.

“The content was very relevant to their brand, the campaign hit their target audience, it was just the right length of footage and fitted very well with their family business ethos, aside from that it delivered results - following the coverage on Facebook and their own site - it was mentioned on over 30 bookings and other kids that stayed at the motel wanted to meet Lewis, the owners son who starred in the video!''

The Motel has enjoyed a superb year of success at major awards ceremonies where it has been recognised consistently for its attention to quality service.

Earlier this year Belmore enjoyed the distinction of being the only independent business in Ireland to pick up a Silver Award in the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

The motel also left its larger competitors standing when it was awarded House Keeping Team of the Year and runner up in the Receptionist of the Year categories in the 2011 Northern Ireland Hotel Federation annual awards.

And next month, the Belmore Court & Motel will be one of the finalists in the coveted Chartered Institute of Marketing Ireland Excellence awards; Best Marketing and Sales – Tourism and Hospitality.

Belmore owner Terry McCartney said: “As a small business up against much bigger companies, we are delighted to be singled out for success.

“Having all three of our entries shortlisted in DANI and also making the final of the CIM Marketing Excellence awards has topped what has been a very successful year for us. We really have a team and a product to be proud of.”

Visit National Trust Properties - Free!

Visit a number of National Trust attractions free of charge as part of the Heritage Open Days and get an insight into the heritage and conservation of the amazing places right on your own doorstep. Free entry over the Heritage Open Day weekend on 10 and 11 September.

CASTLECOOLE
Experience the stately grandeur of this stunning 18th-century mansion set in a beautiful wooded landscape park – which is ideal for family walks. Castle Coole is one of Ireland's finest Neo-classical houses: the sumptuous Regency interior and the State Bedroom prepared for George IV provide a rare treat for visitors, allowing them to glimpse what life was like in the home of the Earls of Belmore. Discover the story of the people who lived and worked below stairs as you explore the splendid suite of servants' rooms and service quarters of this magnificent property.

What did you do this Bank Holiday?

With the Belmore Court & Motel and most hotels in Enniskillen full for the Bank Holiday Weekend I decided to take the family a few places to relax and enjoy the good weather - Let's not forget it's back to school on Wednesday.

On Saturday we went to the Valley Hotel in Fivemiletown to Circus workshop and funday supported by Dungannon District Council. Lisa Williamson and committee has organised a number of events. There was a bouncy castle and inflatables outside along with people representing the Niamh Lousie Foundation and Drink Aware. There was also a disco, a Todd's Leap competition and sparkley temporary tattoos by Over the Moon. Inside the function room of the Valley Hotel there was a educational puppet show about dropping litter and the Circus workshop by BelfastCircus.org.

The older kids with us loved the workshop the most, while the youngest loved getting a sparkley tattoo and the bouncey stuff. The 2 people from the workshop were fab and communicated well with the 10 kids that were able to take part. Starting off with some team introduction games they then moved on to juggling, hat tricks, stilts and finally the unicycle. A great day was had by all.

On Sunday I brought my eldest to the National Trust's Crom Castle for the Classic Sailing event. There were vintage cars at the old ruins, steam boats, yachts and the Lough Erne Yacht Club were doing a learn to sail day - but we were too late.

It was a magnicient sight to see the flotilla back on Lough Erne for the 1st time in almost 100 years at Crom. We had many residents staying with us from the event and they all said they had a fantasic time.

Monday was back into Enniskillen for the Enniskillen Castle Fun Day. Free family entertainment for the whole family. Drum school, dance classes, tanks, magicians, punch & judy and off course the bouncey castle.

Record numbers came to the Castle museum to see what was happening.

Phew it was a busy couple of days but thankfully the weather held out for us.