Hotel Groups – assessed or not?

VisitEngland estimates that there are more than 3,500 hotels in England with an official hotel grading from either VisitEngland or the AA. Until April 2012, through EnglandNet, VisitEngland was able to provide destinations with an FTP website, where the rating of an individual property could be checked, whether AA or VisitEngland assessed. Unfortunately, this service can no longer be provided, but destinations can confirm VisitEngland ratings on Quality in Tourism’s Tracker site: www.qit.uk.com/asp/Logon.asp. The Tracker is a web-based tool allowing you to track assessments of properties in your geographic area. To gain access to the Tracker; request a 'Tracker Access Form' by emailing [email protected] or telephone 0845 300 6996. The VisitEngland ratings can also be checked through the ‘Check a Quality Rating’ facility on the www.qualityintourism.com website. AA ratings can be checked on the AA’s consumer website: www.theAA.com Hotel Groups Our research and intelligence shows that all the major ‘branded’ hotels in England have an official rating from either the AA or VisitEngland, although sometimes not all of the portfolio are in the scheme. Budget Hotels There is a separate scheme for budget hotels, which involves an annual day visit assessment, focusing on cleanliness and maintenance. For those assessed by VisitEngland the visit is unannounced. No star rating is awarded.

Premier Inn and Travelodge Insert Document Title Here VisitEngland has been assessing the Travelodge and Premier Inn portfolio continuously for a few years. Given the size of the portfolio, a sampling agreement is in place, so different sites are seen each year. If a consumer complaint were to arise during the year, the particular site would be visited, to follow up. New acquisitions from either group are automatically covered by the contract with VisitEngland and Quality in Tourism maintains an accurate list of the entire portfolio. All sites in each group are eligible to display the VisitEngland Budget Hotel sign in any destination’s guide or website. Neither brand displays the signage at the property, but they often show their certificate in reception. VistEngland has 503 Premier Inns in the Budget Hotel scheme and 380 Travelodges.

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Other VisitEngland Budget Hotels VisitEngland also assesses 38 Innkeepers, 1 Tune Hotel (London), 2 Express by Holiday Inns (most are with the AA), 1 Big Sleep (Eastbourne) in the Budget Hotel scheme. The AA carries out Budget Hotel assessments for the following:- Holiday inn Express Ibis Days Inn (some have star ratings)

VisitEngland ‘Accredited’ Hotels Three hotel groups have properties that are VisitEngland assessed every year, but they are not assessed under the hotel scheme. They receive day visits and no stars are awarded. Like the Budget Hotel scheme, the assessment focuses mainly on cleanliness and maintenance and ensuring all the regulatory aspects are covered. Jurys Inns – 19 Hilton Hotels (Hampton and Doubletree) – 34 (N.B Not all of the group are assessed – about 50% remain outside the scheme) Village Hotels – 23

Groups with VisitEngland star ratings There are a small number of hotel groups that work exclusively with VisitEngland for their star rating:- These include:- Radisson Blu (Edwardian) Shearings Hotels Britannia Hotels Abode Hotels Brook Hotels St Austell Brewery Brend Hotels Shepherd Neame

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In some cases, not all the group’s properties are in the scheme, so it is important to check the Tracker or Quality in Tourism’s website to confirm. Using correct signage Destinations should contact Quality in Tourism for the latest version of each rating logo for use in brochures and websites. There are different ones for Accredited Hotels, Budget Hotels and star-rated Hotels. AA ratings Many of the larger groups work with the AA and there is a useful (hard to find!) reference page on the AA website which lists the groups and consortia that they work with and links through to a list of assessed properties for each group:- www.theaa.com/travel/hotel_groups.jsp As with VisitEngland, not all the properties in some groups have current ratings, for example, the De Vere Grand Hotel, Brighton has not had a star rating for several years. There are some anomalies, by group, such as Jurys Inns, where two of their portfolio (Liverpool and Manchester) have AA three-star hotel ratings, but the rest are ‘Accredited’ by VisitEngland (no star ratings). The Days Inn Group has a mix of Budget Hotels and star-rated hotels with the AA.

The AA runs an ‘Associate’ scheme, where they recognise a VisitEngland star rating and offer a stand-alone marketing package for a fee, with an entry on their website. They then display the hotel as if it has an AA star rating, but the property will have been inspected by VisitEngland.

AA Associate recognition Establishments inspected and rated by VisitEngland, VisitScotland or Visit Wales can pay to belong to the AA Associate Hotel/Guest Accommodation Scheme. You can be confident that all AA Associate-recognised establishments have star ratings that meet the common quality standards.

Useful Contacts: Quality in Tourism (to check VisitEngland ratings) Tel: 0845 300 6996 Email: [email protected]

The AA – Tel: 01256 844455 Email: [email protected]

15 January 2013

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