The UK Coach Awards organisers are passionate about gaining feedback from the industry, and understanding ways in which the scheme can be improved to do a better job of helping to promote coach travel.

As part of the process, we asked our customers for their views this spring. Director Chris Cheek reports on the results.   

In a feedback survey via the web-based research site Survey Monkey, we asked people who had attended this year’s Coach Awards, and been involved as a nominee, guest or sponsor, for their views on the event and on UK Coach Awards generally.

We were keen to test the overall view of the Awards scheme, and the extent to which people understood what we were about. Respondents were therefore asked whether they agreed or disagreed with four statements about the awards. The encouraging thing was that no respondent disagreed with any of the four statements. A small proportion reported that they neither agreed nor disagreed, but over 80% either agreed or agreed strongly with the statements (figures in brackets).

• UKCA is a worthwhile scheme which is helpful to the UK Coach Industry (87%)

• UKCA can help to improve operator staff recognition and morale (87%)

• UKCA offers independent and impartial judging (80%)

• UKCA categories reflect the different aspects of running a quality coach operation (87%).

We then asked people to tell us their views on various aspects of running the awards, including the entry process, our web site, our use of social media and our ticket sales/admin processes. Excluding the “don’t know/no opinion” answers, the entry process received unanimous approval. The web site received a 77% satisfaction rating, whilst our use of social media scored 92%. The administration and ticket sale process achieved a 91% approval rating.

We were keen to gather views on the Presentation Ceremony, both in terms of the venue and the content. Again excluding the “don’t know/no opinion” responses, the approval ratings were very strong.

The overall quality of the Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester achieved a 93% rating, whilst the food and reception drinks each notched a 100% score – as did the quality of the accommodation for those who stayed the night. The wine scored 93%. 

Our compere Carol Kirkwood and the overall production for the show received a 93% approval rating. The Quiz, a new feature for 2016, scored 73% - whilst another innovation, the game of “tops and tails” received an approval rating of 77%. In terms of post-show entertainment, the return of the Fun Casino and the addition of the Fun Photo Booth scored 90% and 89% respectively.

This was a very positive result, and we were delighted with the feedback and the comments made – including both positive suggestions and – despite the overall high scores – some very helpful criticisms. Rest assured that we shall not be resting on our laurels, though: we already have a long list of improvements that we can make – and we’ve already started that process in planning the 2017 scheme.

Meanwhile, we must say a big ‘thank you’ to those who responded to the Survey. It was very helpful indeed to get people’s reactions, and we shall most certainly be repeating the idea in future.