Blind Tiger Inns have this week announced the winners in the 2023 incentive challenge and 4 of the team will be jetting off to New York City in March, thanks to their sensational results last year.
The successful managers, heading off to the city that never sleeps are, Steph Armstrong of the Chestergate in Stockport, Tony Thomas of the Park view In Burnley and Karen and Les Strickland of the Grapes, Liverpool.
Each of the pubs have had their own success stories and managed to achieve strong results consistently throughout the year.
Operations manager for Blind Tiger, Nick Buckle has been out delivering the exciting news to the team;
“As a business we work hard together, play hard together and genuinely share in the success as a team. There are good days and challenging days in my role, but going visiting the star performers and seeing their faces when you tell them their hard work is being rewarded with a once in a lifetime trip, well that counts as a great day in my book!”
In its 6th year now, the Blind Tiger bonus scheme is unique withing the industry and is one of the many things which sets them apart in the partnership-managed model of operations. This is something that is well recognised by the team within Blind Tiger;
“We love what we do here at the Grapes, and being rewarded by Blind Tiger both financially and with these kind of prizes really does set them apart from other pub companies we have worked with. We have never been to New York before and have so much we want to do; I hope Chris will be bringing his credit cards!” said Karen Strickland, manager of The Grapes, Liverpool
Each month, managers of Blind Tiger pubs have a set of KPI targets, based on the previous years results. There are ten boxes to tick in total, with monthly bonuses for each pub ranging from £150 to £1,500 depending how many boxes are ticked.
Most managers earn around 70% bonus as a minimum each month, but those who earn the full £1,500 are automatically working towards an even bigger incentive. Introduced in 2022, when 2 of the headed off to Las Vegas, the reward for achieving 3 maximum bonuses of £1,500 is a trip to New York City.
New York City was selected as there is a very cool craft beer bar named Blind Tiger, to which the team of four will be paying a visit as part of the many planned activities on the trip, which will also include sightseeing, attractions, fine dining and of course, beers!
Managing Director of Blind Tiger Inns, Chris Tulloch tells us;
“Since we launched the bonus scheme in 2018 it has really helped to develop our team, with the managers really understanding the importance of the KPI’s and becoming stronger business managers as a result.”
Originally set at a bonus of £500 per month, the scheme has progressed massively;
“The success of the bonus scheme in developing the team has been incredible, hence us tripling the achievable amount from £6,000 to £18,000 over the past five years. Adding in the once in a lifetime trips to Vegas and New York City gives that real extra spark to the scheme, and allows us to reward the over achieving operators in the way that they deserve to be!”
Having run a trip to Vegas and with New York City just weeks away, its important to ensure the 2024 incentive is equally as exciting, which is why we have chosen ‘The Race to Dubai’. The metrics remain the same, achieve 3 maximum bonuses throughout 2024 and you will be on the plane to Dubai next year. There is no limit to the number of managers who can board the plane, which is one of the real benefits to the scheme. Tulloch explains;
“Our managers work tirelessly throughout the year and our model has always been based on sharing in the rewards of the success. Having the opportunity to take the guys to New York is simply incredible and each of them deserves it beyond any doubt. The targets each year are set on the previous years performance so everybody genuinely has the opportunity to win the prize. Nothing would make me happier that to be sat here in early 2025 booking flights to Dubai for every single one of our operators!”
The team will set off in early March, enjoy four days in New York before returning to focus on booking those seats on the plane for Dubai 2025.
