Bristol Lives: Bailey Balloons

Clive and Jo Bailey were recently awarded the Access for All Award at the Bristol Tourism & Hospitality Awards 2013. Read on to find out how they'll be celebrating their success and what winning means to them...

Congratulations on your win! Tell us a little bit about your business?

Bailey Balloons is a family run hot-air balloon company specializing in champagne balloon flights in Bristol, Bath and South Wales. My husband and I are both commercial balloon pilots with a passion for ballooning and have been operating for over 19 years. Our Customers come from far and wide to fly with us.

What does winning this award mean for you and your company?

Winning this award is a fantastic achievement for us. We work really hard to try and make sure that everyone is able to experience the magic of a hot air balloon flight wherever possible, and to have that recognised is brilliant. We hope that this award cements our existing reputation as a quality hot air balloon company. 

Why do you think you won?

Nothing is too much hassle for us, where there's a will, there's a way. We've flown passengers with disabilities such as MS and those with terminal illnesses and helped them to achieve the dream of a lifetime.

What do you think made you stand head and shoulders above the rest?

We always go the extra mile to make our customers happy, sometimes flying people who have been turned away elsewhere. We always try to make every part of the ballooning experience as inclusive and enjoyable as possible.

How are you planning to celebrate your victory?

We had a lovely evening at the tourism awards with our fellow nominees, but we're really waiting for Clive to come home from piloting balloons in Burma so that we can celebrate together with our pilots, crew and office staff - they all play such an important role in what we do. 

Are you feeling confident about progressing to the VisitEngland Awards?

Competition at the Bristol Tourism and Hospitality Awards was tough, so I'm sure this will be the case even more so at the VisitEngland Awards, but we've shown ourselves to be strong candidates and we're definitely capable of giving other attractions a good run for their money. 

Business is clearly booming, why do you think so many people visit Bristol?

Bristol is home to a number of festivals for music and art lovers, as well as being the Hot Air Ballooning capital of the UK. It's also home to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, which attracts 500,000 visitors every August. Visitors come to Bristol not only for the attractions but to experience its distinctive atmosphere, there's nowhere else quite like it! 

What's your favourite thing about Bristol?

My favourite thing about Bristol is getting the opportunity to fly hot air balloons over its stunning scenery. Even though it's something I've done many times, each flight is different and it is something that's always unique!

Tell us a little bit about the role that you play within the business? 

I'm the Managing Director along with my husband Clive who's also our Chief Pilot. I mainly manage the office while he captains the skies. We still work well as a team even though it’s now been over 19 years of working together!

What advice would you give to someone looking to succeed in your industry?

The leisure industry is a difficult one to succeed in as it is so competitive, but the key to our success is our friendly and personalised approach. We build a relationship with each and every one of our passengers, and that's what keeps them coming back. My advice to someone looking to succeed in this industry is to be yourself, listen to your customers and be friendly and approachable.