The Victoria Hospitality Awards Committee (VHAP) recently recognized Richard Dunham of Avis Car Rental on Douglas St. with a Victoria Hospitality Award.
Dunham’s nomination came to VHAP from Donny Ming, a visitor to Victoria from the U.K.
Ming had booked a reservation with Avis via the company’s website for a mid-sized car to be picked up from
Victoria Airport because the downtown office on Douglas St. apparently didn’t have the car Ming wanted. After subsequently finding out the car was offered at the downtown location, Ming discovered he couldn’t change his reservation due to an online mix up.
“This resulted in confusion and frustration as well as monetary costs e.g. international phone calls,” Ming wrote.
”After all the frustration and confusion of being passed from pillar to post through dealing with Avis’ customer services over the phone and via e-mail…whilst still in the U.K., I thought I’d just give the Avis office in Douglas street a ring and see if something could be arranged. Richard was the gentleman who answered the phone and, after checking his system, he confirmed that a standard size SUV was available for the dates of my booking.”
“I met Richard on the morning of the day I was due to pick up the car, just to be certain that everything was in order,” Ming added. “This saved me a 90-min bus ride to Victoria Airport just to pick up the car. Richard was a very courteous and helpful chap… [and he] managed to cut through all the red tape laid out by the Avis ‘system’ … This meant that we didn’t have to carry our luggage all the way to the airport to pick up the car. He arranged for the car, ensured that we knew where we were heading and provided advice on driving to our intended excursion sites around Vancouver Island to ensure that we got about safely. Richard is an asset to Avis and to tourism in Victoria and Vancouver Island and I wanted to put in a special mention for him.”
The Victoria Hospitality Award program was founded in 1994. A not-for-profit society was formed with a mandate to recognize individuals from the Greater Victoria area for outstanding hospitality. Outstanding hospitality is defined as a random act of kindness that goes over and above the expected to meet the needs of an individual.
Committee members meet monthly to review ballots received and to select a winner. Monthly winners are presented with a signed Victoria Hospitality Award Program certificate, a letter of commendation, a City of Victoria pin engraved with the winner’s name, and numerous other gifts from Committee members representing various sectors of our community. The Society hosts a Special Event annually to honour all nominees and monthly winners.
Nomination ballots are found on-line with Tourism Victoria at: www.tourismvictoria.com/vha and on website: www.victoriahospitalityawards.com
