SANTA RITA, Guam -- The Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS) on U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) was presented the Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Accreditation Award for Excellence during a presentation at Gab Gab Beach Nov. 15.

The Zumwalt Accreditation Award recognizes installations that provide exceptional facilities, amenities, and service to their guests. The purpose of the Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Lodging Accreditation Program is to ensure consistent superior management in all functional areas at every CNIC lodging operation.

"NGIS works 365 days a year to ensure that our Sailors and their families are well taken care of when they come to Naval Base Guam," said Capt. Hans Sholley, NBG commanding officer. "I thank each member of the NGIS team who have set the standard for excellence in customer service."

The Zumwalt award was established by the Secretary of the Navy in 1974 to recognize commands that achieve the highest level of service standards. The Five Star rating is only awarded to those whose excellence encompasses all NGIS operations, including enlisted and officer quarters, distinguished visitor quarters, and flag officer quarters.

"The NGIS program is one of the first interactions that PCS families and TDY travelers have with the base. The team at NGIS can set the tone for someone's entire stay on Guam," said James Duff, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Guam director. "Receiving this achievement illustrates the NGIS team's dedication to ensuring the highest level of service is provided to the active duty service members and families who visit Naval Base Guam."

NGIS received this accreditation in a year where they operated at over a 90% occupancy rate and opened an additional 222 rooms to provide more availability for its customers, Duff said. NGIS NBG oversees 368 total rooms on NBG, with 47 employees.

A team from CNIC inspected NGIS in April. The Gateway Inns and Suites were inspected on registration, front desk, housekeeping and custodial services, facility requirements, personnel management, financial management, logistics management, core standards, and Zumwalt accreditation standards. The inspection is based on points.

A total of 220 - 241 points must be achieved to be considered Zumwalt accredited, according to Victoria Powell-Johnson, NGIS NBG general manager. Powell-Johnson said NGIS on NBG scored 233 points.

Powell-Johnson said NBG NGIS received a 3-Star Award in 2012 and the Zumwalt Award in 2010. This recent recognition is a reflection on the entire NGIS NBG team, she said.

"Every single employee played a role in this process," Powell-Johnson said. "It is gratifying to see that our extremely hard work paid off."