Submitted by: Karen Thompson

If you are planning a trip to Jamaica, you would wish to make your travel plans and decide what to see and do as also where to stay. Jamaica has a varied landscape with lots to see and do. As for where to stay, you can choose between hotels and Jamaica accommodation rentals comprising private villas, cottages and apartments. Both options are good but private rentals score over hotels in that they provide all the services hotels offer and combine it with privacy and space that only a home can provide. So these rentals are part home and part hotel and are more affordable also. Add to this the fact that these rentals have well-equipped kitchens, which means you can dine and save big money you would otherwise have to spend in restaurants.

As already stated, Jamaica has a dramatic landscape perfect for a number of activities, such as:

Golfing: The Island is home to some of the best golf courses in the Caribbean. The warm tropical weather and the breathtakingly beautiful backdrop of the Caribbean Sea add to the pleasure of the game.

Land activities: You can go hiking up the Blue Mountains. Ask most hikers and they will unanimously agree that the best time to start the hike is at pre-dawn so that you can reach the peak before sunrise. Jamaica is also famous for its beaches where you can spend the hours lazing away in the sun, watch people or take a plunge into the waters. Besides, you can opt for many guided tours such as ATV tours, horse back riding tours, bike tours, boat jeep tours, and hiking tours.Jamaica accommodation rentals such as the Silver Sands villas have a local staff who can provide you with insiders tips on what on what to see and do on the island, away from the usual tourist traps.

Water activities: Jamaica is blessed with a spectacular coastline. Most rivers on the island are also navigable, so you can opt for a number of water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, white water rafting, bamboo rafting, deep sea fishing and surfing to name a few. Then there are various boat trips and cruises that you can take. One of the most well-known attractions in Jamaica is the marine park, Dolphins Cove, where you can swim with the dolphins, and if you are adventurous enough, with the sharks also. Deep sea fishing is a favourite activity on the island and if you wish to include it in your itinerary, make sure to book a charter in advance.

Shopping: You can shop for local crafts, painting and wood carvings. Visitors to the island usually shop for rum, Blue Mountain Coffee, and some local spices. The beaches are dotted with vendors selling souvenirs and knick knacks. There are many duty free shops scattered on the island where you can buy authentic local crafts and gifts for your family and friends.

Dining: Jamaica is known for its sumptuous cuisine which reflects interesting influences of various cultures. The most popular dish is jerked meat-jerked pork and chicken. You can dine in casual and formal settings. If you don’t want to dine out, you can be pampered to the choicest of local dishes prepared by the chefs of the Jamaica villas and cottages.

About the Author: Karen Thompson is a travel writer for Mysilversands, a company dedicated to providing quality self-catering accommodation in Jamaica Accommodation Rentals, Jamaica villas, cottages and Jamaica apartments by the sea.

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The Spy Who Loves You: The Hotel Mystery Shopper

by

Antony Shaw

If knowledge is power , as Sir Francis Bacon asserted, then it would be self-sabotage for any hotel, serious about customer service and client return rates, to overlook the effectiveness of employing the services of a highly trained hotel mystery shopping team. Knowledge based client relationships are the surest way to ensure happy clients – and a happy client is a return client. Successful hotels know this and invest wisely in keeping their precious punters pleased and returning time and time again.

An informed, client-literate organisation successfully delights their specific demographic; ensuring a brand/client loyally that is absolute gold, a virtual life insurance for the establishment. Below are three irrefutable reasons for using undercover hotel testers – ignored at your business peril!

1. Loss prevention

Knowledge gleaned from the feedback of a hotel mystery shopping report is an invaluable tool for minimising status and fiscal losses. Losses are incurred on many levels when a client s first impression is lacking. Firstly, there are the marketing expenses, then the cost of advertising that may have got the business through the door, and is then lost in an instant when a customer is met with sub-standard service. An establishment s reputation is informed by lasting first impressions, be they positive or negative.

Theft is another legacy of the inattentive staff member. A lack of attentiveness and promptness boosts the chances of pilfering; the undesirable client is not a fan of the attentive staffer. Business losses are also incurred when product knowledge is lacking, products displayed incorrectly, or up-selling opportunities overlooked.

2. Positive Customer perspectives

A positive and accurate customer perspective is obviously gold for your business. This outcome is achieved through comprehensive staff training and the micro management of all areas of your establishment. It is pertinent to remember that it can t be fixed if it s not known to be broken – so knowing where to focus a company s energy is the first step in rectifying any lacking areas in the organisation. To know where a company s focus needs to be is ascertained by the results of a professional audit.

Investing in a hotel mystery shopping service can define your establishment s strengths and weaknesses and can also be tailored to incorporate an appraisal of your competitors. To know thy competition and to know thyself better than anyone else is wise counsel indeed.

Being wise to the service tactics, product offerings, policies and procedures of your competitors helps you to proactively compare and contrast your establishment and to inform profitable, entrepreneurial directions.

3. Unbiased Third Party Feedback

Hotel mystery shopping audit results eclipse the satisfaction survey or brand audit in reliability and usability. The professional feedback can be structured to focus on a particular issue that may be identified within your organisation. The fact is that the service provides unbiased and insightful information, the depth and breadth of which surpasses traditional market research or surveys. Customer information and feedback collated into a useable format, suited to on-going, in-house monitoring is a gift that keeps on giving.

Quality performance and quality standards are the cornerstone of a successful accommodation establishment that boasts a loyal clientele and a superb global reputation. Do your business a favour and let

hotel mystery shopping

work for you.

Antony Shaw, Vice President of Global People Development at IFH Institute for Hospitality Management, is a leading expert in the field of

hotel mystery shopping

. IFH provides high-level quality control for the worldwide hospitality industry through its renowned

hotel mystery shopping

program.

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