Grading Information
Tourism Gradings
Choose your accommodation with confidence....
Kingsbridge Information Centre understands that during the course
of 2007 all gradings will be taken over by the VisitBritain, Quality
Assurance Standards. When you are looking for a place to stay,
you need a rating system you can trust. VisitBritain’s ratings
will be a clear guide as to what to expect in an easy-to-understand
form. Properties will be visited annually by trained, impartial
assessors, so you can have confidence that your accommodation
will have been thoroughly checked and rated for quality before
you make a booking. The ratings will be your sign of the National
Quality Assurance Standards, giving you the confidence to book
accommodation that best meets your needs and expectations.
Despite our best endeavours, we have been unable to ascertain
a precise timetable as to when each category of accommodation
will be assessed by VisitBritain. However, until that time the
current ETC, AA and RAC gradings remain in force and are detailed
below.
Please note: Classifications and quality ratings are
subject to change and you are therefore advised to check on all
gradings at the time of booking. We regret that Kingsbridge Information
Centre cannot be held responsible for any discrepancies in the
published gradings.
The AA, English Tourism Council (ETC) and RAC have joined forces
to create one new overall rating scheme for hotels and Guest Accommodation.
 Stars
for Hotels
Stars from one to five symbolise overall quality, level of service,
food standard and range of facilities available.
Diamonds for Guest Houses
The same minimum requirement for facilities and service applies
to all Guest Accommodation. Progressively higher standards of
quality and guest care apply as they move up the scale from one
to five diamonds.
recognise the very best ten per cent of establishments within
the three, four and five diamond rating levels. Red diamonds are
selected on the basis of the quality of their bedrooms, bathrooms
and public areas.
 Self
Catering Accommodation
There is a new star rating for all self catering accommodation
inspected by the English Tourism Council. The more stars from
one to five, the higher the overall level of quality and facilities
you can expect to find.
 Caravan
& Camping
Caravan & Camping Parks are rated by stars from 1-5 by the
English Tourism Council. Parks are required to meet progressively
higher standards of quality as they move up the scale from one
to five stars.
Parks are rated with 1-5 pennants by the AA. You can expect to
find progressively higher standards of quality and variety of
facilities amd amenities as the ratings increase.
Gold & Silver Awards
The English Tourism Council also bestow gold and silver awards
to those establishments that achieve the very highest levels of
quality.
 Green
Tourism Award
Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are given to those who promote
and practise sustainable Green Tourism in their own businesses
and the surrounding area.
Please note: Classification and quality ratings
are subject to change. The classification and quality ratings
that appear on this site were correct at the time of publication. |