Core benefits of accreditation

Accreditation benefits operators, the industry and consumers. It confirms to consumers and industry that tourism business operators are committed to quality and professionalism in their conduct and delivery of service.

Operator benefits are summarised as:

• The ability to assure business and the consumer of the continued quality of services provided by that business, leading to improved customer relationships and reputation - resulting in repeat business;

• Documentation of formal operational and management procedures that can add value and direction to a tourism business. This will improve business knowledge, competence, management and predictability;
• Improved risk management procedures and a commitment to training which in turn create the opportunity to contain public liability insurance premium levels;
• Industry standards underpin risk mitigation;

• Assists implementation of measures to enhance the total visitor experience and ultimate consumer satisfaction;
• Facilitates quality continuous business improvement through alignment with quality assurance principles;
• Competitive positioning and improved reputation advantage in the marketplace and increased market share;
• The accreditation logo being recognised and promoted in government-sponsored programs and tourism publications. Every accredited operator is issued with a distinctive logo, which may be used on all advertising and promotional material,
• Encourages the business to identify consumer needs;
• Encourages business to identify their strengths and weaknesses;
• Assist businesses to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements by interpreting these and providing small business friendly solutions;

• Improvement in profitability and yield through implementation of better operating business systems;
• Marketability;
• Improved employee morale and more effective management;
• Improved customer service and communications;
• Reduced complaints and complaints response processes;
• Listing on the Australian Tourism Accreditation Program website and the Tourism Accreditation Australia Limited national website; and
• Benefits associated with national and international promotion of the accreditation logo as a symbol of quality within the tourism industry.

In some states and territories, accredited businesses receive discounts and/or value added benefits when participating in marketing and advertising programs and may even result in reduced insurance premiums – a benefit that can often far exceed accreditation fees.

Industry benefits are summarised as:

• Contributing to business development and a more sustainable business;
• Making Australia a more competitive destination particularly in the international market place;
• Demonstrating industry leadership and initiative;
• Self-regulation reducing the likelihood of imposed regulation;
• Ensuring that tourism businesses are committed to quality business practice, professionalism and delivering what they promise; and
• Raising the survival rate of new tourism businesses in competitive and challenging times.

Consumer benefits are summarised as having an assurance of:

• Reliability of product and service;
• Consistency of product and service;
• Certainty;
• Security and safety through improved risk management procedures;
• Confidence in product; as accreditation underpins the process of ensuring that a business will consistently meet and exceed the expectations of the domestic and international consumer; and
• A business commitment to quality.

Accreditation encourages customers to confidently expect tourism operators to deliver quality products and services.

Governments benefit from investing in and supporting accreditation through development of a strong, sustainable tourism industry, which:

• Creates six per cent of (536,600) jobs in Australia and a further 3.5 per cent (351,000) jobs indirectly;
• Generates some $73 billion in revenue from tourism consumer expenditure in Australia, representing around 3.9 per cent of expenditure on GDP;
• Generates an estimated $17 billion expenditure by international visitors;
• Operates mainly in the small business sector (it is estimated 91 per cent of tourism businesses can be classified as small businesses);
• Has a major impact on employment in regional Australia (some 80 per cent of tourism businesses operate in regional areas); and
• Support for accreditation would represent a small but critical investment in research and development activity relative to the benefits, which flow from the industry.

The Accreditation Advantage

• When you become an Accredited Tourism Business you will be providing yourself with an enormous business asset. Not only will your customers look for and recognise the ‘tick’ when choosing tourism product but your business will also be recognised by fellow members of the tourism industry;
• Accreditation provides travel retailers and wholesalers with an assurance of quality standards and professional service;
• Accredited operators can be recognised in government and other industry organisational marketing programs that can highlight the benefits of accredited tourism businesses;
• The accreditation logo can be promoted nationally and internationally as a symbol of quality within the tourism industry
• Contribute to a more sustainable and competitive tourism industry nationally and with each state/territory.