The Fully-Researched Hotel Awards™

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

INFO FOR HOTELS

Your
Research & Judging
Visits


We look forward to visiting you soon as we carry out research and judging for the current season's awards program. Below is a little bit of detail on the hows and whys, and what to expect from our representative(s).

* We carry out different types of visit
* This adds to a wide range of info sources
* We carry forward 23 years of people knowledge

We treat each hotel as a unique entity and seek out what and who might fairly and helpfully be celebrated or honoured in this season's awards program cycle.

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BestShot™ Visits
you know we are coming

Please treat us as normal guests and do not add extras. We will follow the process from confirmation of booking to checkout. The stay is provided by you on a complimentary basis (DBB + certain necessary extras*). After breakfast we meet with the GM or Owner, as scheduled. At this stage we appreciate a showround and are happy to receive from you any supporting documents like menus, plans, feedback / reviews. It's informal, constructive and thorough.

Mystery Visits
find out on our check-out

We will have agreed in advance with you to do a Mystery Visit and you can tell us of any blackout / unsuitable dates. We usually agree a time window, say, a one or two week period when we will come. We book and stay as a normal guest might (using your website) and only reveal our identity on checkout (when the account should be complimented or refunded). We will look at all aspects of the hotel as we experience it as a normal guest might.


FOR BOTH THE ABOVE...
We will use our own Research & Judging Team plus Industry Peer Experts - usually hotel GMs / Owners / exceptional Chefs in a non-competitor category. Both methods are used for Reviews for the forthcoming consumer guide, and agreeing the format for  your Hotel Blue Plaque (for PRIME Members).

* EXTRAS NOTE
Extras may include, for example, and if relevant to your entry: parking, necessary spa visits / treatments, other typical experiences, room service (in a few categories), and alcohol limited to our guidelines: an aperitif, plus a glass of wine (ideally recommended by you) with dinner (this may be flexible if the hotel wishes to showcase, for example, flights or cocktails).

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Interviews for People Awards
Every contender is met in person by arrangement.

Specific Expert Visits
Sometimes we need to send in a judge with a very specific expertise, and this may be a BestShot or Mystery visit. An example of this might be Design.

Extra Info Visit
We sometimes ask for further details / proof - or need to catch up last-minute after your hotel's had important developments or enhancements.


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THIS HELPS US ACHIEVE
FAIR, HONEST, UP-TO-DATE
Results

All researched and established facts and details are gathered together. We frequently discuss any last necessary questions with hoteliers or staff, or with our Advisors and Experts including Specialist Judges and Peer Judges. Everything progresses in the sequence Nominee - Finalist - Result.

THE BEST RESULTS EMERGE
As the 22nd Annual Awards Night 2026 and inaugural Scottish Hotel People Awards near, in confidence and secrecy, we shape up completed Results to best reflect the current, up-to-date leaders. Category by category, we take a comparative view across the country. At every stage we weigh-up a complete picture with common sense and thoughtful, fair and respectful judgement. Gradually the winners emerge.

UNIQUELY UP-TO-DATE
Just about a week before the event the Senior Judging Team will sign off the Results in full. Nobody outwith a very small group including our Chairman, Deputy, President & Vice-Presidents knows the complete results in advance.

Thank you for hosting our Researchers, Judges & Travel Writers

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