Accommodation Ratings

The English Tourism Council (ETC), in response to consumer demand, has created new rating standards for accommodation in England.  The standards use Stars to represent Hotels and Diamonds for Guest Accommodation, which includes Guest Houses, Inns, Farmhouses and Bed & Breakfast. Self-Catering is represented by Stars and Caravan Parks and Hostels are also represented by Stars.

The Automobile Association (AA) and RAC also use the same rating standard for serviced accommodation. The RAC and AA also have a rating for Restaurants.

The new ratings put even greater emphasis on quality. Now, when you see an AA ETC or RAC sign showing Stars or Diamonds, you will know that the accommodation has been visited by qualified, independent assessors. It is that simple and that easy to find quality accommodation to meet your expectations.

HOTELS

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.

At a hotel you will find:

• Practical accommodation with a limited range of facilities and services, but a high standard of cleanliness throughout.
• Friendly and courteous staff to give you the help and information you need to enjoy your stay.
• Restaurant/eating area open to you and your guests for breakfast and dinner.
• Alcoholic drinks will be served in a bar or lounge. 75% of bedrooms will have en-suite or private facilities.

At a hotel you will find: (in addition to what is provided at One Star)

• Good overnight accommodation with more comfortable bedrooms, better equipped - all with en-suite or private facilities and colour TV.
• A relatively straightforward range of services, including food and drink and a personal style of service.
• A restaurant/dining room for breakfast and dinner.
• A lift is normally available.

At a hotel you will find: (in addition to what is provided at Two Stars)

• Possibly larger establishments, but all offering significantly greater quality and range of facilities and services, and usually more spacious public areas and bedrooms.
• A more formal style of service with a receptionist on duty and staff responding well to your needs and requests.
• Room service of continental breakfast.
• Laundry service available.
• A wide selection of drinks, light lunch and snacks served in a bar or lounge.

At a hotel you will find: (in addition to what is provided at Three Stars)

• Accommodation offering superior comfort and quality; all bedrooms with en-suite bath, fitted overhead shower and WC.
• The hotel will have spacious and very well appointed public areas and will put a strong emphasis on food and drink.
• Staff will have very good technical and social skills, anticipating and responding to your needs and requests.
• Room service of all meals and 24 hour drinks, refreshments and snacks.
• Dry cleaning service available.

At a hotel you will find: (in addition to what is provided at Four Stars)

• A spacious, luxurious establishment offering you the highest international quality of accommodation, facilities, services and cuisine.
• It will have striking accommodation throughout, with a range of extra facilities.
• You will feel very well cared for by professional, attentive staff providing flawless guest services.
• A hotel that fits the highest international standards for the industry, with an air of luxury, exceptional comfort and a
• sophisticated ambience.

ETC Gold and Silver Awards

Gold and Silver Awards are given to ETC rated establishments achieving the highest levels of quality within their Star rating. While the overall rating is based on a combination of quality, range of facilities and level of services offered, the Gold and Silver Awards are based solely on the quality aspect.

• AA Red Stars
AA Red Stars are awarded to the top 200 Hotels in Great Britain and Ireland. They are selected from each of the star-rating levels for their exceptional quality of accommodation and customer service.

• RAC Gold Ribbons
The RAC Gold Ribbon is awarded to Hotels that consistently demonstrate a commitment to superlative standards of customer care, service and accommodation.

• RAC Blue Ribbons
The RAC Blue Ribbon is awarded to Hotels that consistently demonstrate a commitment to high standards.

GUEST ACCOMMODATION

Guest Accommodation includes Guest Houses, Inns, Farmhouses and Bed and Breakfast.

Diamond ratings for Guest Accommodation reflect visitor expectations, with quality seen as more important to visitors 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.

At Guest Accommodation you will find:

• Clean accommodation, providing acceptable comfort with functional decor and offering, as a minimum, a full cooked or continental breakfast.
• Other meals, where provided, will be freshly cooked.
• You will have a comfortable bed, with clean bed linen and towels and fresh soap.
• Adequate heating and hot water available at reasonable times for baths or showers at no extra charge. An acceptable overall level of quality and helpful service.

At Guest Accommodation, you will find: (in addition to what is provided at  One Diamond)

• A sound overall level of quality and customer care in all areas.

At Guest Accommodation, you will find: (in addition to what is provided at Two Diamonds)

• A good overall level of quality. For example, good quality, comfortable bedrooms; well maintained, practical decor; a good choice of quality items available for breakfast; other meals, where provided, will be freshly cooked from good quality ingredients.
• A good degree of comfort provided for you, with good levels of customer care.

At Guest Accommodation, you will find: (in addition to what is provided at Three Diamonds)

• A very good overall level of quality in all areas and customer care showing very good levels of attention to your needs.

At Guest Accommodation, you will find: (in addition to what is provided at Four Diamonds)

• An excellent overall level of quality. For example, ample space with a degree of luxury, an excellent quality bed, high quality furniture, excellent interior design.
• Breakfast offering a wide choice of high quality fresh ingredients; other meals, where provided, featuring fresh, seasonal local ingredients.
• Excellent levels of customer care, anticipating your needs.

ETC Gold and Silver Awards

Gold and Silver Awards are given to ETC rated establishments that not only achieve the overall levels of quality within their Diamond rating, but also reach the highest levels of quality in specific areas, identified by potential guests as being really important to them. The awards reflect the quality of comfort and cleanliness you will find in bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the quality of service you will enjoy throughout your stay.

• AA Red Diamonds
AA Red Diamonds are awarded to the best 10 per cent of Guest Accommodation within the three, four and five-Diamond rating levels. Establishments are selected only on the basis of the quality of their bedrooms, bathrooms and public areas.

• AA Associate Hotels and B&Bs
AA Associate Hotels and B&Bs are listed by the AA on the basis that they have been inspected and graded by a recognised national inspection body. In England this can be either the English Tourism Council or the RAC and in these cases the Diamond rating awarded by that body will also be displayed.

• RAC Little Gems
Presented to Guest Accommodation properties that really 'hit the spot' and excel in hospitality, cleanliness, welcome and attention to detail.

• RAC Sparkling Diamonds
This award is made to Guest Accommodation properties that achieve excellent standards of cleanliness, hygiene and attention to detail.

• RAC Warm Welcome Awards
As the name implies, this award is made to Guest Accommodation properties that make the guest feel 'at home' the minute they arrive to the time they depart. The hospitality of the host is key to winning this award.

CAMPING AND CARAVAN PARKS

The Star rating standard for Camping and Caravan Parks has been developed to reflect consumer expectations.  A rating from One to Five stars is awarded, which reflects the overall quality of the Park, based on cleanliness, environment and the standard of facilities and services provided.

	• Acceptable Quality : in particular, achieving the strict cleanliness provisions of the scheme.
	• Good Quality : in particular, exceeding the strict cleanliness provisions of the scheme.
	• Very Good Quality : solid quality across all park facilities and services - the industry standard
	• Excellent Quality : only available to parks with careful attention to detail in the provision of all services and facilities and excellent standards of cleanliness are required in all areas of the operation - amongst the industry's best.
	• Exceptional Quality : parks that go beyond the norm in terms of quality provision. They exceed the highest standards of the industry with pristine conditions, thoughtful and sympathetic landscaping and immaculate standards of cleanliness - the crème-de-la crème.

SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION

Star ratings for self-catering establishments symbolise the level of quality, including comfort, space, facilities and most important of all, cleanliness. Quite simply, the more stars, the higher the overall level of quality you can expect.

At you will find:

• Acceptable overall level of quality.
• Adequate provision of furniture, furnishings and fittings.

At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at One Star)

• Good overall level of quality.

At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at Two Stars)

• Good to very good overall level of quality.
• Good standard of maintenance and decoration.
• Ample space and good quality furniture.
• All double beds with access from both sides.
• Microwaves.

At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at Three Stars)

• Excellent overall level of quality.
• Very good care and attention to detail will be obvious throughout.
• Either access to washing machine and drier, if not provided in the unit, or a 24 hour laundry service.

At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at Four Stars)

• Exceptional overall level of quality.
• High levels of decor, fixtures and fittings, together with excellent standards of management efficiency and guest services.
• Excellent range of accessories and personal touches.

HOSTELS

Hostel accommodation includes owned hostels, youth hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns.

Hostels and Group Hostels are rated from One to Five Stars. For eligibility, hostels must meet a minimum requirement for both the provision and quality of facilities and services, including fixtures, fittings, furnishings, décor and any other extra facilities. Progressively higher levels of quality and customer care are provided for each Star Rating.

Acceptable Quality

Good Quality

Very Good Quality

Excellent Quality

Exceptional Quality

Bunkhouses offer a similar style of accommodation to Hostels, but generally with more limited services and facilities, usually on a self-catering basis.  Bunkhouses are not Star rated, but meet the same minimum requirements as Hostels, where applicable.

Camping Barns provide very simple self-catering accommodation.  Camping Barns are not Star rated, and will be assessed as being fit for the purpose, meeting a specific entry requirement.

How to choose the Star rating that is right for you

Quite simply, the more Stars, the higher the overall level of quality you can expect to find. Establishments at higher rating levels also have to meet some additional requirements for facilities. All properties have to meet an extensive list of minimum requirements before they can be considered for a Star rating. From there, increased levels of quality apply. For instance, you'll find acceptable quality at One Star, good to very good quality at Three Star and exceptional quality at Five Star.

All Star-rated properties will provide the following before they can be considered for a Star rating:

• High standard of cleanliness throughout Pricing and conditions of booking made clear
• Local information to help you make the best of your stay
• Comfortable accommodation with a range of furniture to meet your needs
• Colour television (where signal available) at no extra charge
• Kitchen equipment to meet all essential requirements

RESTAURANT RATINGS

AA ROSSETTES

Most AA Star-rated hotels have their own restaurants and they are also inspected. As with independent restaurants, Rosettes from one to five are awarded annually to hotel restaurants for the quality of their food. Not all restaurants receive an AA award, but will generally serve enjoyable food.

Chefs should display a mastery of basic techniques and be able to produce dishes of sound quality and clarity of flavours, using good, fresh ingredients.

Innovation, greater technical skill and more consistency and judgement in combining and balancing ingredients are all needed at this level.

This award takes a restaurant into the big league. Expectations of the kitchen are high: exact technique, flair and imagination must come through in every dish, and balance and depth of flavour are all-important.

At this level, not only should all technical skills be exemplary, but there should also be daring ideas, and they must work. There is no room for disappointment. Flavours should be accurate and vibrant.

The supreme accolade awarded only when the cooking is at the pinnacle of achievement. Flavours, combinations and textures show a faultless sense of balance, giving each dish an extra dimension.

RAC DINING AWARDS
RAC rated Hotels and Guest Accommodation alike can receive a Dining Award, as good food and a good dining atmosphere can be found at all styles of accommodation. The award considers dinner, the full cooked breakfast the next morning and room service (where available) so that a full impression of the standard of catering on offer can be formed. There are 5 RAC Dining Awards available, with a RAC Grade 5 Dining Award representing a superb dining experience. However, the standards have been set to challenge the very best establishments. Attaining an RAC Grade 1 Dining Award is a success in itself.