Martin Webb, Membership Manager at Visit Chester and Cheshire, explains how VAQAS and VCC work together. 

"Chester and Cheshire has a vibrant visitor economy and our vision for the future is ambitious, aiming to encourage the industry to develop, innovate and succeed.

Since our inception in 2004, we at Visit Chester & Cheshire have been keen supporters of VAQAS. We recognise that to remain competitive, the quality and standards our visitors expect and encounter must continue to improve and we acknowledge the key role VAQAS plays in maintaining that competitive edge.

Visit Chester & Cheshire actively encourage Cheshire’s attractions to take advantage of the service and both the management and marketing benefits it offers. One of the key elements of this support has been our contribution towards the joining and annual participation fees for Visit Chester & Cheshire members. We contribute a generous 50% of the first year’s fees, together with 25% in the second year and 10% in the third. 

Over thirty Cheshire attractions are now VAQAS participants, with more set to join by 2008. Every district in Cheshire and Warrington is represented and a real variety of attractions are experiencing the benefits, from a major Zoo through to a theme park, museums, historic houses and gardens. We have even had a jazz theatre & bar take advantage of the VAQAS service - although they were not eligible to receive the accreditation, they felt the assessment and de-brief was an important part of moving their business forward. We are positive our direct approach to financial support has played a vital role in encouraging attractions to become quality assessed. 

This financial support hasn’t been the only way we have encouraged attractions to participate. We have organised Quality Awareness Days and we continue to work closely with local tourism officers and the North West based VAQAS assessor who has long-established links with many of Cheshire’s visitor attractions. 

In the future, quality will remain high on the agenda and we will continue to strive to be a leader in the number of businesses who are assessed under nationally-recognised schemes. VAQAS, along with the National Quality Assurance Standards for accommodation, remains integral to helping us achieve our vision that Cheshire will be home to a range of quality destinations and experiences that people go out of their way to be part of."

For further information about VAQAS in Cheshire, please contact Martin Webb at m.webb@visitchesterandcheshire.co.uk Tel. 01244 405609.