Challenging times!

I have just returned from my Nordic Walk in The New Forest with Karen Guttridge of Slimfocus. Not only is walking great exercise but it's fun too and I am hoping to reduce my waistline so I can get back into my size 10 trousers again. Karen is a member of Wessex Women's Network and I can recommend her to anyone wanting to get fit and lose weight. She is full of knowledge and ideas and makes losing weight such fun. I am planning on Nordic walking three times a week, I'll let you know my progress!

It's been another busy week for me with a talk to the Wallington and Fareham Amateur Winemakers Circle  on Monday night and another talk today for the Emsworth and District U3A. I really enjoy giving my talks because not only do I meet some friendly and interesting people but I hope that by hearing my story it will  encourage women to fulfill their dreams and to reach their full potential. SO DON'T DREAM IT JUST DO IT!

I love hearing inspirational stories and on Wednesday evening I attended the The Wow Summer Celebration at New Place Shirrell Heath. Wow is a firm of proactive accountants based in Andover Hampshire. They offer an innovative approach to Accounting, Financial Planning and Business Advice to small businesses.The Wow Network is for business owners and Wow hold events with interesting speakers throughout the year. The evening started with a refreshing glass of Pimms in the sunshine! It was a perfect summer evening and the speaker Martin Palethorpe left us in no doubt as to how you can create a world class business using some inspiring insights from his race to the North Pole. Martin is a leading Organisational Consultant and Motivational Speaker and I came away with loads of notes, ideas and was totally inspired by Martin's courage and determination to succeed. I admire anyone who faces such extreme challenges. The nearest I have ever come to that is when I went on a women's challenge in the Malvern Hills in 1995 to raise money for breast cancer. I walked 30 miles, slept under a bivouak and went across a quarry on a zip wire. You don't have to enjoy the experience but these challenges stretch you and makes you discover you can do things you never thought possible.

I often recommend a book for you to read so I thought it was a good opportunity for me to mention my book 'Delighting Your Customers'. As we are told we are heading for some hard economic times I believe those businesses who look after their customers and give five star service will survive and even succeed. Remember the customer pays our wages.

Avril

The Inspector Calls

It was a beautiful sunny morning in the New Forest and Spring was in the air. The Cloud Hotel was busy as usual when two of our guests who had stayed the night checked out and announced they were AA Inspectors. I then have to stop what I'm doing to sit and hear the comments and report of their visit. I'm always slightly apprehensive at the start of the meeting even though I have been the Proprietor of The Cloud Hotel for 34 years. However on this occasion I couldn't have experienced a more positive and encouraging meeting and in no way did I feel intimidated. I was able to express my concerns about the star ratings and how they are perceived by the general public. Bed and Breakfast establishments, Guest Houses, Public Houses and Inns used to be awarded Diamonds which differentiated them from Hotels that were awarded Stars. This was changed a few years ago and now everyone is awarded Stars but are judged on which type of accomodation they are offering. For example a Bed and Breakfast establishment can be awarded 5 Stars but based on Bed and Breakfast facilities likewise for Guest Accomodation and Public Houses etc. I feel this is confusing to the general public. The Cloud Hotel has 2 Stars based on its facilities as an Hotel, for example we don't have a lift or night porter but the Inspectors gave the Hotel a first class report for service, cleanliness, food. efficiency and to my friendly and loyal staff and increased The Cloud Hotel's Merit score to 84%. The Merit Score is not often recognised by the general public but it is awarded for the quality of the services offered by the Hotel as opposed to the facilities. I was delighted to have such positive feed back by such professional and encouraging Inspectors. Having good feedback lifts everyone's spirits and encourages everyone to do even better in the future. Seeing the sunshine, the fresh green shoots on the trees and the foals grazing outside the Hotel as well as a newly born baby donkey going by staying close to its Mother while people are trying to get a photograph of him adds to the surroundings and atmosphere of a very good day at The Cloud Hotel.