Using Cristal International Standards’ web-based auditing system, E-Cristal, TourCheck allows tour operators to receive up-to-date reports from hotels.
As First Choice pay-out £1.7 million to 600 holiday makers in compensation, Cristal International Standards warns tour operators to take customer welfare seriously with robust hygiene systems or face threats to brand reputation.
The industry currently relies heavily on hotels completing self-assessment forms, which are supported by tour operators occasionally sending auditors as back-up. Larger travel firms have 1,000s of hotels contracted, making regular checks on every establishment an administrative burden. Without regular, independent auditing reports, accurate reflections of hotel performance are impossible which can threaten a tour operator’s ability to maintain its brand values.
TourCheck is the only real-time safety report, carried out by an expert on site at hotels, enabling travel firms to access essential safety information, in a format that is suitable for all tour operators. Using Cristal International Standards’ web-based auditing system, E-Cristal, TourCheck allows tour operators to receive up-to-date reports from hotels. As the majority of hotels working with Cristal International Standards are audited on a monthly basis, the reports offer the travel industry the added assurance that the required assessments have been carried out recently by trained experts.
Steve Tate, Chairman at Cristal International Standards explains, “It’s not acceptable that holiday makers have to endure less than adequate standards. There is too much information provided by self-assessment and tour operators can’t rely on this data alone to ensure that brand values are being maintained. In extreme cases, future bookings can be affected which can put a travel firm’s reputation in jeopardy.”
“To avoid compensation pay-outs and reputational damage, TourCheck improves the due diligence of tour operators, as it provides frequent and up-to-date safety information. These audits are accredited by an independent expert that would otherwise have only been gathered on a yearly basis, at least.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
