Winners of last year's Pride in Thanet Awards

The search is on for Thanet’s top customer service people – the ones who always go out of their way to provide a warm welcome to visitors and local residents alike.

Thousands of Pride in Thanet award nomination postcards are being distributed in hotels, restaurants, libraries, leisure centres, visitor attractions and tourist information centres.

The postcards make it simple for residents, visitors and guests to nominate the staff they meet who go that extra mile.

The awards are a partnership between Thanet council and Visit Kent and are part of the Celebrating Kent initiative, and recognise the importance of excellent customer service in making a visit so rewarding that people will recommend destinations, attractions and places to stay to their friends and family.

Thanet council deputy leader Cllr Martin Wise said: "These awards recognise the outstanding work of people working in our leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses. We all know what a difference it makes to a day or evening out when we are treated well and staff are helpful. We want to show our appreciation to those people who work so hard and make such a difference to the visitor experience in Thanet."

For further information, or to ask for a nomination form, email prideinthanet@thanet.gov.uk, phone 01843 577577, or see www.visitkent.co.uk/prideawards

The deadline for nominations is Monday, February 28, 2011.

Visit Kent is a public and private sector partnership supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, the district and borough councils, Tourism South East and the leading sector tourism businesses in Kent. Visit Kent champions Kent’s £2.5 billion tourism industry by targeting markets and improving quality and skills.