ETC Accommodation Ratings

New Accommodation Ratings - Hotels and Guest Accommodation

The English Tourism Council, in response to consumer demand, have created a new rating scheme for Hotels and Guest Accommodation, using Stars to represent Hotels and Diamonds for Guest Accommodation (guesthouses, inns, farmhouses, bed & breakfasts). The new scheme puts greater emphasis on quality in hotels and Guest Accommodation particularly in areas of cleanliness and guest care. Now, when you see one of our signs showing Stars or Diamonds, you'll know that the hotel or guest accommodation has been visited overnight anonymously by our qualified assessors. It's that simple and that easy to find quality accommodation to meet your expectations.
Hotels Guest Accommodation

HOTELS - Stars

Our 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 ONE STAR 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.

At a TWO STAR 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 THREE STAR hotel you will find (in addition to what is provided at ONE and TWO STAR)

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 FOUR STAR hotel you will find (in addition to what is provided at ONE, TWO and THREE STAR)

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 FIVE STAR hotel you will find (in addition to what is provided at ONE, TWO, THREE and FOUR STAR)

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.

GUEST ACCOMMODATION - Diamonds

Our 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 One Diamond Guest Accommodation you will find:

Clean accommodation, providing acceptable comfort with functional décor 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 Two Diamond 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 Three Diamond Guest Accommodation, you will find (in addition to what is provided at Two Diamond)

A good overall level of quality. For example, good quality, comfortable bedrooms; well maintained, practical décor; 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 Four Diamond Guest Accommodation, you will find (in addition to what is provided at Three Diamond)

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

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

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.

Accessibility

access1.JPG (6839 bytes) Places to stay that show one of the three signs shown beside care about Accessibility.  When you see the Tourism for All arch with one of the three symbols, you can be sure that the establishment has been thoroughly assessed against demanding criteria.

The English Tourism Council had hundreds of accessible properties in its scheme, and the three different categories will help you to choose the one that suits your needs.

Category 1

Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling independently

Catergory 2

Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling with assistance

Catergory 3

Accessible to someone with limited mobility, able to walk a few paces and up a maximum of three steps.

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