Seahorse Tours & Souvenirs launches Subic Bay’s first Guest rated Hotel and Resort ranking system.

March 28, 2008 - PRLog -- What would you expect from a 5 star hotel? How about a 3 star?  With no “official” rating system in the Philippines, hotels and marketing agencies just set their own. One town in an outlaying area set its own rating system. It awarded “5 STARS” to its best hotel, it is equipped with” luxury” items such as a bathroom en suite including a shower with hot water (4 hours a day) and electricity 4 hours a day.  Seahorse Tours has developed a 2 part rating system (quality and Value), using International standards and guest inputs to evaluate hotels and eliminate surprises. “ We are often asked how many “stars” a hotel or resort has” states Charles Davis, President of Seahorse Tours & Souvenirs
http://www.seahorsetours.com He adds: “Some of the local properties that claim 4 stars in their marketing material have become run down in the last number of years and do not still deserve such a rating. We decided that to properly inform our guest we need to develop our own system.”  Many people, especially those from outside of the country place too much reliance on the Department of Tourism (DOT) accreditation programs. That program was never intended to be a full rating service. The DOT program deals with just the physical structure and does not truly reflect the quality of a hotel or resort.  In addition some of the “requirements” are not always desirable in a beach front resort or in a boutique hotel.  The DOT program is voluntary and many fine properties do not apply.

  The “Seahorse” system takes elements from other ranking systems and creates a system in which local properties are rated against each other and an international scale.   The ratings will appear on our hotel Page
http://www.seahorsetours.com/hotel.html  The quality rating uses a one to five sea horse rating.
•   5 Seahorses - An excellent resort with superior first-class accommodations and guest service
•   4 Seahorses - A first-class resort hotel or condo with a good selection of guest service.
•    3 Seahorses - A comfortable hotel or condo with simple accommodations and public area
•    2 Seahorses - A modest hotel or condo with limited choice of amenities and  
•    1 Seahorse - A basic budget hotel or condo with few public areas or amenities.

The value system gives five possible rating also:
•   Two thumbs up- our best rating an excellent value for the money spent
•    Kool-  a good value for the money spent
•   Shrug - the I guess it was worth it rating
•   Frown- Over priced, not worth what was paid.
•   Cry-  a total rip off, they should of paid me to stay there

The evaluation is based on a number of different factors. First is our staff input, we created a baseline for each hotel and resort. We included our ocular visits, reports from past guest, the flexibility of dealing with the property and similar elements. Our staff also drops into the different restaurants and lounges at the properties to keep touch with what is going on.  The bulk of the rating is from our past guest. We sent surveys to our past guest asking a number of questions about how they felt about the place they stayed at.

“Overall, we see this as part of our responsibility in marketing Subic Bay” says Charles,” We are the only tour operator and travel agent who solely focused on Subic Bay and the surrounding areas.  Most of the travel agents that sell Subic Bay have never been here, while this is where we live, work and play. If the area is to continue to grow, the public and travel agents need a clear view of what is being offered, We see this 2 part system as a step in that direction.”  Seahorse Tours & Souvenirs is focused on marketing Subic Bay as a travel destination.  We are also a ( http://www.subicbaydive.com ) dive specialist marketing dive packages  to Subic Bay within the region

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About Seahorse Tours & Souvenirs The area's leader in tours and travel packages. We offer a variety of tours that will enhance your visit to the Subic Bay area. We are accredited by the SBMA and the Philippine Department of Tourism as a Tour Operator and as a Travel Agent. We are members of the Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau and the Subic Bay Dive Association. The Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) has accredited us as a Dive Operator.

Website: www.seahorsetours.com