The Fully-Researched, People-Centred Awards™

all done with
utmost care & respect

INFO FOR HOTELS
ON YOUR
Research & Judging Visit

We look forward to visiting you soon as we carry out research and judging for the current season's awards program. Below is a little bit of detail on the hows and whys, and what to expect from our representative(s).

* We carry out different types of visit
* This adds to a wide range of info sources
* We carry forward 22 years of people knowledge

We treat each hotel as an entity in itself and seek out what and who might fairly and helpfully be celebrated or honoured in this season's awards program cycle.

BestShot™ Visits
you know we are coming
PLEASE READ BEFORE WE VISIT
Please treat us as normal guests and do not add extras. We will follow the process from confirmation of booking to checkout. The stay is provided by you on a complimentary basis (DBB + certain necessary extras*). After breakfast we meet with the GM or Owner, as scheduled. At this stage we appreciate a showround and are happy to receive from you any supporting documents like menus, plans, feedback / reviews. It's informal, constructive and thorough.

Mystery Visits
find out on our check-out
We will have agreed in advance with you to do a Mystery Visit and you can tell us of any blackout / unsuitable dates. We usually agree a time window, say, a one or two week period when we will come. We book and stay as a normal guest might (using your website) and only reveal our identity on checkout (when the account should be complimented or refunded). We will look at all aspects of the hotel as we experience it as a normal guest might.

FOR BOTH THE ABOVE...
We will use our own Research & Judging Team plus Industry Peer Experts - usually hotel GMs / Owners / exceptional Chefs in a non-competitor category. And both methods are used for Reviews & Ratings (for Active Members) for the forthcoming consumer guide online soon in 2025.

* E X T R A S
Extras may include, for example, parking, necessary spa visits / treatments, other typical experiences, room service (in a few categories), and alcohol limited to our guidelines: an aperitif, plus a glass of wine (ideally recommended by you) with dinner (this may be flexible if the hotel wishes to showcase, for example, flights or cocktails).

* Interviews for People Awards
Every contender is met in person by arrangement.

* Expert Visits
Sometimes we need to send in a judge with a very specific expertise, and this may be a BestShot or Mystery visit. An example of this might be Design.

* Extra Info Requests
We sometimes ask for further details / proof.


FAIR, HONEST, UP-TO-DATE
Results

All researched and established facts and details are gathered together. We frequently discuss any last necessary questions with hoteliers or staff, or with our Advisors and Experts including Specialist Judges and Peer Judges. Everything progresses in the sequence Nominee - Finalist - Result.

THE RESULTS EMERGE
As the Annual Awards Night 2025 and the Scottish Hotel People Awards near, in confidence and secrecy, we shape up completed Results to best reflect the current, up-to-date leaders. Category by category, we take a comparative view across the country. At every stage we weigh-up a complete picture with common sense and thoughtful, fair and respectful judgement. Gradually the winners emerge.

UP TO DATE
Just about a week before the event the Senior Judging Team will sign off the Results in full. Nobody outwith our top team knows these results in advance.


Thank you for your kind assistance


The 2025 Team are listed here ➦About Us

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