Dolce Hotels and Resorts, a collection of 27 upscale hotels, resorts and conference hotels in North America and Europe is one of the first global hotel chains to sign up to the HBAA International Charter.

Launched last week, the HBAA International Charter aims to drive awareness amongst overseas hotels and venues of how to deal with UK agencies and thereby benefit from the association’s buying power, which exceeds £2.3bn per annum.

In adhering to the HBAA International Charter, Dolce Hotels and Resorts will benefit from the association’s framework for best practice and key principles by which the agents and venues shall operate and conduct their business. The Charter covers enquiry response times, commission levels and payment terms.

Juliette Knowles, director European global sales at Dolce Hotels and Resorts, commented, “Joining the HBAA International Charter is a terrific opportunity for Dolce Hotels and Resorts to show its commitment to working closely with agents in the best possible way to benefit the entire industry. We look forward to seeing the benefits to our business.”

Chairman of the HBAA, Juliet Price said: “We are extremely pleased to have an organisation of the calibre of Dolce Hotels and Resorts on board backing up the Charter so early in the process. We are looking forward to seeing the benefits that the HBAA’s International Charter will bring to their business and see it as an affirmation of the HBAA’s international reach.”

Steve Ockerby, chair of the International Charter Committee, said, “We have been delighted with the amount of interest that overseas venues have shown. Everyone recognises that meetings and events are no longer confined purely to the UK and that a working practice needed to be put in place to clarify and strengthen the relationships between UK HBAs and overseas hotels and venues.”

The HBAA represents the interests of parties involved in the procurement and management of conference, meetings and accommodation in the UK and internationally. It has an annual buying power in excess of £2.3bn per annum and is recognised by corporates as the benchmark of quality and integrity.