Accommodation Ratings
The following descriptions have all been taken
from the relevant Tourist Board web pages. All trademarks
are acknowledged.
English
Tourism Council ~ Scottish
Tourist Board ~ Wales
Tourist Board
Hotels and Guest Accommodation
In response to consumer demand, the Automobile
Association, English Tourism Council and Royal Automobile
Club have joined forces to create one new overall rating
scheme for serviced accommodation, using Stars to represent
Hotels and Diamonds for Guest Accommodation (guesthouses,
inns, farmhouses, bed & breakfasts). The new scheme
puts greater emphasis on quality in Hotels and Guest Accommodation
– particularly in areas of cleanliness and guest care.
The new ETC, AA and RAC grading scheme will
apply to inspections undertaken throughout the UK by the
AA and RAC.
Automobile Association, English Tourism Council
and Royal Automobile Club grading scheme
Serviced Accommodation: Stars
Star ratings symbolise the level of service,
range of facilities and quality of guest care that you can
expect. Hotels are required to meet progressively higher
standards as they move up the scale from one to five Stars.
The gradings are:
One star
Practical accommodation with a limited range
of facilities and services, but a high standard of cleanliness
throughout. Restaurant/eating area. 75% of bedrooms will
have en-suite or private facilities.
Two stars
Better equipped bedrooms, all with ensuite/private
bathroom and a colour TV. A lift is normally available.
Three stars
Higher standard of services and facilities
including larger public areas and bedrooms, a receptionist,
room service, laundry.
Four stars
Accommodation offering superior comfort and
quality; all bedrooms with en-suite bath, fitted overhead
shower and WC. Spacious and well appointed public areas.
More emphasis on food and drink. Room service of all meals
and 24 hour drinks, refreshments and snacks. Dry cleaning
service available. Excellent customer service.
Five stars
A spacious, luxurious establishment offering
you the highest international quality of accommodation,
facilities, services and cuisine. There will be a range
of extra facilities. You will feel very well cared for by
professional, attentive staff providing flawless guest services.
Serviced Accommodation: Diamonds
Diamond ratings for Guest Accommodation reflect
visitor expectations of this sector, where quality is seen
as more important than facilities and services. As a result
Guest Accommodation is required to meet progressively higher
standards of quality and guest care as they move up the
scale from one to five Diamonds.
One Diamond Guest Accommodation
Clean and comfortable accommodation, providing
breakfast and helpful service.
Two Diamond Guest Accommodation
An increased level of quality and comfort,
with greater emphasis on guest care.
Three Diamond Guest Accommodation
Well maintained, practical decor, a good choice
of breakfast dishes, a higher degree of customer care and
at least 40% of the bedrooms will have private or ensuite
bathrooms.
Four Diamond Guest Accommodation
An even higher level of quality and comfort.
Good level of customer care.
Five Diamond Guest Accommodation
Excellent quality in furnishing and rooms.
At least 80% of bedrooms will have ensuite/private bathrooms.
Excellent levels of customer care.
Self-catering accommodation
N.B. These classifications are no longer
valid will gradually disappear. They have been included
here as some properties have yet to be re-graded under the
new scheme and therefore still display their old rating.
Every year the English Tourism Council inspects
more than 11,000 self-catering units under the Grading and
Classification scheme.
Quality Grading
Establishments are graded for quality - including
the standard of furnishings and equipment.
Approved
Properties have an acceptable standard of
quality.
Commended
Properties have a good overall standard of
quality.
Highly Commended
Properties have a very good overall standard
of quality.
De-Luxe
Properties have an excellent overall standard
of quality
Classification
In addition the tourist board gives you an
indication of the range of facilities and equipment that
are offered. The classifications range from 'One Key' to
'Five Key'. The more Keys, the wider the range of facilities
and equipment available.
The Scottish Tourist Board Quality Assurance
Scheme
A trained Scottish Tourist Board inspector
grades properties of the following types on a yearly basis:
Guest House, Bed and Breakfast, Hotel, International Hotel
Resort, Lodge, Inn, Restaurant with Rooms, Campus Accommodation,
Self-Catering, Serviced Apartments.
These properties are graded using a Star
quality grading system.
The gradings are:
One star
Fair and acceptable quality, adequate service
and guest care.
Two stars
Good quality, comfortable furnishings and
good service.
Three stars
Very good quality, commendable standard of
furnishings and service.
Four stars
Excellent quality, high standard of guest
care. All rooms with ensuite/private bathroom. A restaurant.
Five stars
Exceptional quality, with the highest standard
of furnishings, flawless service, all rooms with ensuite/private
bathroom, 24 hour room service and a restaurant.
Serviced Accommodation - Star Classification
Scheme
It’s important to bear in mind that the
Star Grade takes into account the nature of the property
and expectation of the guests - so a farmhouse is just as
entitled to Five Stars as a country hotel, as long as what
it offers is of the highest quality.
1 star
Fair to good quality, with an acceptable standard
of furnishings and adequate service and guest care
2 star
Good quality, with a comfortable standard
of furnishings, service and guest care
3 star
Very good quality, with a commendable standard
of furnishings, service and guest care
4 star
Excellent quality, with a high standard of
furnishings, service and guest care
5 star
Exceptional quality, with the highest standard
of furnishings, flawless service, meticulous guest care
and exemplary provision and presentation of all aspects
of the business
Self Catering - Dragon Classification Scheme
All self-catering accommodation participating
in the WTB quality assurance scheme will have achieved the
minimum standards (as laid down by the Wales Tourist Board).
For example,
-
Must be thoroughly cleaned and checked
before each letting
-
Exterior and interior decorations, furnishings,
floor coverings and fittings must be maintained in a
good condition
-
Any gardens must be maintained in good
order
-
The following is to be provided:-
-
Television
-
Wardrobe, dressing table and drawer
space
-
Adequate heating
-
Bath or shower and washbasin
-
Gas or electric cooker
-
Refrigerator
-
Continuous supply of hot and cold
water
It will also have been quality graded. There
are 5 Dragon grades for this type of accommodation: from
1 to 5, with 5 being the highest level.
Aspects that are covered by quality grading
include beds and bedding, heating, cleanliness, lighting
and electrical appliances etc. Credit is also given for
provision of facilities and services over and above those
which are traditionally associated with self-catering, e.g.
automatic washing machine, freezer, microwave etc.
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