When it comes to superb organisation, performance and facilities, Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre is one of the best….and that’s official!

For the Centre has just been named as one of the finalists in the country’s tourism, hospitality and leisure Oscars……and has won a Business Excellence Award from the British Hospitality Association which identifies it as one of the industry’s most outstanding performers.
It is one of three South Devon attractions to be recognised in the latest awards…the others being Paignton Zoo and Kent’s Cavern.

Launched in 2001 by the BHA, the Best Practice Forum is a strategic alliance of eight key trade associations and other industry organisations operating within the tourism, hospitality and leisure sector. It’s role is to encourage businesses within the industry to introduce new ideas and innovation by adopting and adapting best practice to raise their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness to world-class levels.

Two years ago, the Forum launched the Business Excellence Awards to recognise achievement and to showcase and disseminate case study exemplars of best practice and encourage other companies to follow their lead.

Entries are based on a ‘before’ and ‘after’ benchmarking exercise to assess measurable business improvements as a result of the initiatives taken.
There are eight different categories and following a very critical and close assessment of all the entries, the Riviera International Conference Centre managed to win its way through to the finals in the Conference section.

The success will generate a lot of publicity for the Centre and boost Torquay’s appeal as a conference destination.

Managing director Barry Cole submitted a case study highlighting how the Centre has made significant changes to compete against the country’s top conference destinations to attract major firms and organisations to choose Torquay over and above anywhere else.
Barry said: “We are all very proud to have been selected as a finalist on these very prestigious awards. They are the most coveted in the industry and are hotly contested every year.
“Our success is a tribute to all our staff who work so hard to ensure we provide conference organisers with everything they need.”