Sign of the times: Scott Chance is delighted with the Braye Beach’s AA listing. (0656462)
ONE of the island’s top hotels has received a glowing review from a prestigious ratings body. The Braye Beach Hotel, which opened three years ago, has been awarded four stars by the AA’s independent hotel grading scheme after a team of inspectors visited the Braye Street establishment in the summer.
General manager Scott Chance is delighted with the accolade.
‘We are pleased to be the first officially graded hotel in Alderney and would like to think this will lead to the introduction of a grading system throughout the island,’ he said.
Mr Chance approached the AA with the aim of gaining further exposure for the hotel in the UK and putting Alderney on the map as a viable, short-break destination.
He added: ‘The AA scheme is a worldwide-recognised method of assuring quality accommodation at the time of booking. With four stars, we hope to be able to attract more people to the island with the knowledge that the Braye Beach is offering a very high standard of accommodation and food.’
The Healthspan-owned hotel is the company’s second to receive four stars from the AA. Guernsey’s Fermain Valley Hotel achieved the same standard earlier this year.
Alderney States marketing manager Joanna Parmentier is also happy that the Braye Beach has been recognised and said that it could be only a positive thing for the island’s tourist industry.
The AA’s website explains that it expects four-star establishments to have ‘professional, uniformed staff that respond to your needs or requests’.
It goes on to say that such hotels have well-appointed public areas, that the restaurant and dining room is open to residents and non-residents and that lunch is available in a designated eating area.
Rotary Club of Alderney members are appealing for young islanders to apply for grants from its Youth Travel Fund.
The YTF’s aim is to help young people in full-time education travel to the UK and other Channel Islands for a development purpose.
Rotary works in tandem with Aurigny to offer the grants and there are several criteria.
For starters, requests are considered only from bona fide groups or organisations in the island and those who apply must have already sought funds from family members and the States.
The YTF generally provides assistance through a partial subsidy of fares, though a full grant may be offered in exceptional circumstances. If agreed, the grant is paid by way of a cheque in favour of Aurigny.
Application forms can be obtained from Ingrid Murdoch at St Anne’s Guest House in Le Huret.
Article posted on 17th October, 2008 - 11.00am
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