Quality of experience to be focus of revised hotel rating standards

The AA and four national tourism bodies have revised common standards for hotel and self-catering accommodation across the UK.

The new guidelines will ensure that official rated properties will be judged with a greater focus on the quality of experience and less emphasis on the provision of facilities.

Replacing standards established by VisitEngland, VisitScotland, Visit Wales, Tourism Northern Ireland and the AA in 2006 and updated in 2012, the new schemes have been drawn up following customer and industry feedback.

Simon Numphud, managing director of AA Hotel & Hospitality Services, said: "We have seen a growing diversity of accommodation combined by increasing customer expectations. It was important that the quality standards were fully updated to reflect the changing landscape of both the quality of accommodation and the customer experience."

Andrew Stokes, director of VisitEngland, added: "We know that people value quality and guaranteeing that a star rating in Inverness or Swansea brings with it the same benefits as one in Cornwall or Belfast will encourage visitors to further explore the accommodation on offer.

"These refreshed common standards ensure that the wonderful range of quality accommodation across our nations and regions continues to meet the high expectations of visitors."

In April 2017 the AA took over VisitEngland's quality assessment and star rating scheme. However, the two schemes remain separate with each having its own team of inspectors.

Further information on the new common standards can be found at: www.visitbritain.org/quality-assessment-your-accommodation.

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