Qualmark Scores With Satisfied Customers

22 May 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

Qualmark Scores With Satisfied Customers

International visitors are much more satisfied when they chose independently benchmarked products.

Tourism New Zealand Research just released, shows Qualmark rated products and services score better for satisfaction than non-accredited businesses

The Qualmark brand is also gaining influence over a visitor’s decision making.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton said Qualmark’s success was incredibly important for New Zealand, which is building a reputation as a quality destination.

Tourism New Zealand research, as part of a larger visitor satisfaction survey, indicated visitors were steadily growing more positive about Qualmark.

Research consistently indicates that international visitors are most highly satisfied with New Zealand’s natural landscapes and our clean and unpolluted environment.

“The Qualmark system sets and assesses against national quality standards so that visitors can expect equally high satisfaction levels with other aspects of their visitor experience,” said Mr Hickton.

The research identified that almost half of visitors surveyed indicated that a Qualmark accreditation influenced their accommodation decision, while over a third of the visitors surveyed indicated that a Qualmark endorsement influenced their decisions on transport and activities.

The research also indicated that when comparing satisfaction with Qualmark accredited accommodation, transport or activities with non-accredited accommodation, transport or activities, Qualmark accredited businesses were more likely to receive a “highly satisfied” rating.

Background: Qualmark was established in 1993 as a quality accreditation programme for tourism products and services. The Qualmark endorsement process measures against six core areas of quality: customer service, facilities and equipment, staffing environment and cultural, safety and welfare and overall business operations. The Qualmark quality assurance system has a star grading system for accommodation and an endorsement system for other tourism businesses such as adventure activities, attractions, cultural and nature experiences, coaches, rental cars.

A Qualmark accredited business is independently assessed against a set of national quality standards that have been developed with international visitors, in mind. It aims to identify professional and trustworthy businesses so visitors can book and buy with confidence.

ENDS

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