Common Standards

We are delighted to be able to announce that the AA, RAC, VisitBritain, VisitScotland and the Wales Tourist Board have reached an historic agreement to rate serviced accommodation using a common set of standards.

Building on the collective experience gained running existing recognition schemes and taking into account the results of extensive consumer and industry research, we have put together new standards that, we believe, fully reflect consumer expectations, meet industry needs and which raise quality.

For the first time ever our five organisations will use a single method of assessing and rating serviced accommodation within our respective market places. Irrespective of which organisation inspects an establishment the rating awarded will be the same. This removes confusion and will be clearer for the consumer. It will also make it easier for tourism bodies and the travel industry generally to promote serviced accommodation both at home and overseas.

We have identified three broad styles or categories of serviced accommodation. These are:

• 'Hotel' including the designators /sub-categories 'Country House Hotel', 'Small Hotel', 'Town House Hotel' and an entirely new sub-category to be called 'Metro Hotel'.
• 'Guest Accommodation' including the designators /sub categories 'Bed & Breakfast', 'Guest House', 'Farmhouse', 'Inn', and 'Restaurant with Rooms'.


• 'Budget Hotel' There are no designators/sub categories within this category.
 
We have additionally agreed that stars will be used as the rating symbol for Hotels and Guest Accommodation and that such accommodation will be assessed against criteria appropriate to the style of operation.An establishment can elect to be recognised under any of the designator/sub-categories provided they meet the criteria laid down. Once agreed, all organisations will abide by that decision.
 
A key decision is that establishments that use the word 'Hotel' as part of their trading name will automatically be assessed under the 'Hotel' standard. All properties will be rated and marketed using star rating. Our decisions here very much reflect the strong consumer and industry opinion in favour of this approach, identified within the market research.