SilverDoor’s Business Partnerships Director, Stuart Winstone, has been presented with the prestigious Tim Gasson Award by the Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA). Stuart collected the award at the HBAA’s Annual Dinner and is the first member of the HBAA’s Serviced Apartment Committee to receive the award.
In his role with the HBAA, Stuart has helped to create a model agency agreement as a best practice framework for serviced apartment operators and agents to use as the basis for their commercial agreements. He’s also been working to ensure that the HBAA engages with other industry associations in order to advance the serviced apartment sector as a whole.
This growth sector is an area that more and more HBAA members are beginning to focus on and add as an additional service for their clients. HBAA agent members that have added serviced apartments to their product range have benefited from this additional revenue stream, increased client satisfaction and client loyalty. Stuart commented: “I’m humbled to receive this prestigious award, particularly as it’s the last time that it’ll be awarded. I’m proud of the support SilverDoor gives the HBAA and I’m grateful for the time they allow me to devote to promoting our part of the business travel sector.
“The HBAA’s serviced apartment committee has been working hard to share our knowledge with our fellow HBAA members and it’s wonderful to see serviced apartments taking up their rightful place alongside hotels and meetings and events as an integral part of the association.”
Stuart was nominated for the award by Liz Devaney, HBAA Serviced Apartment Committee Chair who said: “Stuart has been an integral part of the Serviced Apartment Committee within the HBAA, helping us as an industry to drive forward.
“The Tim Gasson award is for those members of the association that have gone the extra mile to support the association’s objectives. During his tenure with the committee, Stuart has gone above and beyond to highlight to the membership, and the wider industry, the importance of recognising serviced apartments and their growth within business travel.”
The Tim Gasson Award is dedicated to the memory of former HBAA Chairman Tim Gasson who tragically died in a motoring accident during his year as Chair. It’s awarded to the HBAA member ‘who has made a particular contribution to the HBAA, and who demonstrates commitment to its ethical principles in their business life, just as Tim always did.’