Accommodation Ratings - What do they mean?

Accomodation Ratings - What Do They Mean? [Hotels] - [Guest Accommodation] - [Self Catering] - [Caravans]
The English Tourism Council, Automobile Association, and the Royal Automobile Club have created one overall rating scheme for serviced accommodation using Stars to represent hotels and Diamonds to represent Guest Accommodation.
The Star classification is a quality scheme of five levels. The assessment rises from one star, denoting hotels with the simplest range of facilities, to five stars denoting luxury hotels with a range of services and facilities that meet the best international standards.
Guest Accommodation covers a wide variety of serviced accommodation, including guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, inns and farmhouses and these establishments are rated in a similar way to the star scheme but quality is represented using Diamonds.
The Tourism Council also present Gold and Silver Awards to establishments that achieve the highest levels of quality in areas such as cleanliness, service and hospitality within their rating.
Similarly the AA recognise exceptional quality of accommodation and hospitality by awarding Red Stars to the best hotels in their star category.
The Hotel 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.
1 Star. High standard of cleanliness with a limited range of facilities and services from friendly and helpful staff. Restaurant and eating area open to you and your guests for breakfast and dinner with a bar or lounge serving alcohol. 75% of bedrooms will have en-suite or private facilities.
2 Stars. All the above and better equipped with more comfortable accommodation. All bedrooms with en-suite or private facilities and colour TV. A straightforward range of services with a more personal touch. Food and drink is of a slightly higher standard. A lift is normally available.
3 Stars. All the above plus greater quality and a higher standard of services and facilities. Usually larger hotels with more spacious public areas and bedrooms. A more formal style of service. Room service of continental breakfast. Laundry service. Greater attention to the quality of food.
4 Stars. All the above plus superior comfort and quality. All bedrooms with en-suite facilities, both bath and shower and WC. More emphasis on quality of food and drink. Skilled staff anticipating and responding to needs and requests. Room service available of all meals. 24 hour availability of drinks and snacks.
5 Stars. All the above plus luxurious and spacious surroundings. The highest international quality of accommodation, services and a range of extra facilities. Professional, attentive, highly trained staff with superb cuisine, striking decor, exceptional comfort, sophistication and ambience.
The Diamond rating for Guest Accommodation is as follows.
1 Diamond. Clean and comfortable. A full cooked or continental breakfast. Other meals where provided, must be freshly prepared. Clean bed linen, towels and fresh soap. Adequate heating, with hot water available at reasonable times for bathing and showers, at no extra cost. An acceptable overall level of quality and helpful service.
2 Diamonds. All the above plus a higher level of quality and comfort with greater emphasis on guest care in all areas.
3 Diamonds. All the above plus a good overall level of quality. Well maintained and practical decor. A good choice of dishes for breakfast and all other meals where provided will be freshly prepared using quality ingredients. A greater degree of comfort and guest care.
4 Diamonds All the above plus a good overall level of quality and comfort. A very good degree of guest care and extra attention given to cleanliness and warmth of welcome.
5 Diamonds. All the above plus and excellent overall level of quality and comfort with ample space and a degree of luxury. A fine quality bed with high quality furniture and interior design. A high proportion of bedrooms with en-suite or private facilities. Other meals where available are made with fresh seasonal local ingredients. Excellent levels of guest care.
< The Star Rating for Self Catering Accommodation is as follows.
1 Star. There will be an acceptable overall level of quality with adequate provision of furniture, furnishings and fittings.
2 Star. In addition to what is provided at the one star level there is a good overall level of quality. All units are self contained.
3 Star. In addition to that provided by two stars the property will have a good, to very good, overall level of quality and a good standard of maintenance and decoration. There will be ample space and good quality furniture. All double beds will be accessible from both sides and microwaves will be available.
4 Star. In addition to what is provided at three stars the accommodation will have an excellent overall level of quality. There will be very good attention to detail, which will be obvious throughout. There will be either access to a washing machine and drier if not provided in the unit, or a 24 hour laundry service.
5 Stars. In addition to what is provided at a four star level there will be an overall level of quality with high levels of decor, fixtures and fittings, together with excellent standards of management efficiency and guest services. There will also be an excellent range of accessories and personal touches.
Please note that many of the establishments may provide some of the facilities and equipment found at a higher level of star rating.
The Star Ratings for Caravan, Touring and Holiday Parks is as follows.
1 Star. Acceptable. To achieve this grade the Park must be clean with good standards of maintenance and customer care.
2 Stars. Good. All the above plus and improved level of landscaping, lighting, refuse disposal and maintenance. May be less expensive than more highly rated Parks.
3 Stars. Very Good. Most Parks fall within this category. Three stars represent the industry standard. The range of facilities may vary from Park to Park but they will be of a very good standard and will be well maintained.
4 Stars. Excellent quality will be found this level. You can expect careful attention to detail in the provision of all services and facilities. Four star Parks rank among the industry's best.
5 Star. Exceptional quality standards can be expected from Parks with this grading. Highest levels of customer care will be provided. All facilities will be maintained in pristine condition in attractive surroundings.

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