Tourist boards at last reach agreement

The major UK tourist boards and motoring organisations have at last reached agreement on how to grade accommodation after decades of arguing about the ratings for hotels and guesthouses. Until now, some properties have been awarded five stars by the Wales Tourist Board and VisitScotland, but only three by the RAC, the AA and Visit Britain, which promotes tourism in England. It’s the first time agreement on ratings has been reached since the classification of properties began in the 1960s. A formal announcement of the details is expected in mid-January and the new assessment of properties will begin in April. Under the current system, VisitBritain, the RAC and AA rate properties according to their facilities, while VisitScotland and the Wales Tourist Board also take into account the ambience and service offered. A famous example of the current confusion is the rating for One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow. The AA gives the property three stars, partly because it has only one restaurant and does not have a lift. But VisitScotland gives it five stars, arguing that it offers a very high standard of service and has guests such as Tony Blair and Henry Kissinger. VisitBritain, the AA and RAC give star ratings to hotels and diamond ratings to bed and breakfast and guest houses. VisitScotland and the Wales Tourist Board stick with star ratings for all properties. VisitBritain and the motoring organisations have now agreed that ambience and service will be taken into account in new assessments, although the likely ratings for individual properties have yet to be disclosed. The diamond ratings are expected to be dropped in favour of separate star ratings for townhouses, hotels and b&bs.