Stirling House Receives Air Force Lodging Accreditation

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RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom --  After a rigorous inspection, RAF Fairford's Stirling House Hotel received the Air Force Services Agency's accreditation stamp of approval for another two years. 

Tech Sgt. Paul Shideler, Stirling House's Lodging Manager, leads a small but dedicated team of three NCOs and twenty-two Department of Defense and Ministry of Defense civilians who provide lodging services for thousands of people every year. Not only does the Stirling House staff house TDY personnel to RAF Fairford and PCSing in and out families, but they also provide lodging supporting exercises at South Cerney, TDYs/PCSes to and from the United Kingdom Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham, and contingency billeting for personnel supporting the Royal International Air Tattoo and RAF Deployed Operations Training.

Emily Day, Accreditation Inspector for the HQ AFSVA located in San Antonio, TX, explained that unlike most inspections that focus solely on the work conducted in a particular section or unit, the accreditation evaluation process begins at the front gate checking for signs leading to lodging and evaluates everything from the parking lot, exterior of the buildings, cleanliness of the laundry facilities, appearance of the interior lobbies, to the attitudes of the Stirling House reception staff. While most inspectors unpack after check-in, Accreditation Inspectors immediately evaluate their room against exacting standards before even opening their suitcases. Additionally, inspectors scrutinize financial and personnel management and housekeeping services, evaluating up to five percent of the rooms at random.

All-in-all there are over 1,200 inspection items requiring at least an 85% or better to pass. Without great leadership and teamwork passing the eight area inspection would be a daunting task, but Tech Sgt Shideler's highly professional team has both. Not every lodging facility receives a passing score. However, with a score of 88.5% - second only in the UK to RAF Lakenheath, Stirling House is inching ever closer to the 90% required to compete for the coveted Air Force Innkeeper Award, Stirling House's goal for 2010.