National Quality Assessment Scheme

What is a quality assessment?

Quality Assessment seeks to inform consumers before they book accommodation, to recognise quality and to differentiate levels of facilities and services, which as potential guests they can expect.

The standards Quality in Tourism assess to have been created as a result of harmonising standards from the National Tourist Boards for England, Scotland and Wales, but also with the cooperation of the AA and formerly the RAC.

Most of the schemes recognise increasing levels of quality using 1 – 5 stars. Some schemes further recognise excellence with the use of Silver and Gold awards.

Please use the list below to gain an idea of the benefits associated with Quality Assessment.

One fee - so many benefits

VisitEngland is the largest provider of quality assessment in England, awarding ratings to more than 23,000 accommodation businesses in 2008. As soon as you join one of the schemes, you can access the following package of associated benefits: -

Unlimited use of internationally recognised marque and star rating in all your promotional material and in listings on any commercial websites.
Annual assessment by one of VisitEngland’s professional assessors. New for 2009! ‘Mystery guest’ overnight stay for all hotels irrespective of star rating. For guest accommodation and hostels, the frequency of overnight stays varies, depending on the star rating (1-3 years). All other schemes have annual day visit assessments. The assessor will award your star rating and give advice on how to maintain and improve your rating as well as maximise the potential of your business.
Written report after each assessment, outlining strengths and areas for improvement, with individual scores for each area of the business assessed.
Free exterior sign to promote your star rating to your customers and annual certificate to display in reception.
Silver and Gold awards for hotels and guest accommodation - opportunity to gain recognition of high achievement through VisitEngland’s special awards. New for 2009! Gold awards for self-catering, to be awarded annually to the top scoring 4 and 5 star properties.
Free subscription to Quality Edge magazine – twice-yearly publication, packed with marketing hints and tips and case studies from operators from all sectors.
Free listing* on www.visitbritain.com. The suite of 42 different country websites, many with separate foreign language versions, attracting over 1 million unique visitors every month.
Free listing* on www.enjoyengland.com. which promotes England only to UK residents and near Europeans, attracting just under 500,000 unique visitors per month.
Inclusion on special ‘Enjoy England’ accommodation download for TomTom users. (8,000 downloads to date).
Access to marketing opportunities offered by regions, destinations and VisitEngland to quality-assessed businesses only.
Free listing in the next appropriate annual VisitEngland accommodation guide plus opportunity to take paid display advertisement.
Complying with legislation is easy with Accommodation Know-How, the online service for accommodation providers. New for 2009! From 1 April 2009 as part of your VisitEngland Quality Assessment you will receive an annual online subscription to www.accommodationknowhow.co.uk. worth over Ł30.00

* Your application for assessment will generate the ‘starter’ entry on the VisitBritain and EnjoyEngland websites, but the full details (images, prices and descriptions) are maintained by the local Data Steward at your local/regional tourism organisation. Please contact your local Data Steward to ensure your entry is complete and up-to-date. (list at www.enjoyengland.com/datastewards)

What do I need to do and what are the next steps ...

Using the below scheme information select the scheme you would be assessed under. Complete the Application & Sector Information form and return to us together with your preferred method of payment.

If having read the appropriate documents you are still unsure as to the best fit for your property you may wish to purchase an advisory visit. This gives you the opportunity to discuss schemes and ratings with an Assessor on site. Please contact us on our helpline on 0845 300 6996 for further information.

We receive your application and assign an Assessor once your payment is cleared (for new applications, your establishment is then loaded as ‘rating applied for’ on the enjoyengland.com, visitbritain.com and linked international gateway websites operated by VisitBritain)

The Assessor makes contact (if your establishment is Serviced Accommodation or a Spa this will be incognito, if you are part of any other scheme the Assessor will make himself known to you)

The Assessor completes the assessment and feeds back to the proprietor (please note there is a lead time for assessment, if you are unsure of this or have a specific deadline please contact our helpline on 0845 300 6996)

We complete a written report* and send it out to you together with a confirmation of your rating (*We do offer an email version, please discuss with your assessor)

You are now Assessed and entitled to all the benefits of the National Quality Assessment scheme and use of the Quality Marque and display signage

Which scheme would I need to be assessed under?

The list below seeks to identify where your establishment might find a best fit. The criteria below are by no means exhaustive and you may need to download the relevant standard to check in more detail that the chosen scheme is appropriate for you.

Of course if you need further guidance you can call our helpline on 0845 300 6996.

A Hotel must have a minimum of 6 bedrooms, be licensed and offer dinner (unless suitable for Metro Hotel category). Also all bedrooms must be ensuite or have a private bathroom.

Are always part of a large ‘branded’ Hotel Group offering clean and comfortable en-suite facilities, 24-hour reservations and a consistent level of facilities.

Guest Accommodation properties are likely to be smaller than Hotels with perhaps more of a family home feel and approach, and a less structured service.

All accommodation with its own kitchen and bathroom facilities. Most take bookings by the week, generally from a Friday or Saturday but short breaks are increasingly common.

Provide an excellent alternative to Hotel Accommodation, found in many of our big cities, apartments offer hotel services such as maid service, concierge in addition to a self-contained unit with a kitchen.

The rating for Holiday Home, Touring and Camping Parks reflect the overall quality of the park. This includes Parks, which cater for Touring Caravans and/or tents and may or may not include Caravan Holiday Homes, some of which may be available for hire.

A Holiday Village usually comprises of a variety of types of accommodation with the majority provided in custom-built rooms (e.g. Chalet, Hotel rooms) on a large complex. A range of facilities and activities are also available which may or may not be included in the tariff.

Includes Bunkhouses, Camping Barns, Back Packer, Group (such as Youth Hostel Accommodation) and Activity Accommodation.

As the name suggests this scheme applies to educational establishments. Ratings can be further split into Guest Accommodation or Self Catering if these are more appropriate schemes. But in general campus accommodation is on a college or university site, with some aspects of communal living space.

A Spa offers professionally supervised treatments, some of which are likely to be water based, to enhance health, well-being and relaxation.

This includes Caravan Holiday Homes situated on Farms, Caravan Parks etc and are let by the owner as Self-Catering Accommodation.

This scheme covers Narrowboats, Cruisers and Hotel Boats in small and large fleets across England’s waterways, the star ratings awarded reflect a combination of service, facilities and the overall quality and comfort of the boat.

Additional Assessment Options

- This scheme provides a set of Accessible Standards against which establishments are assessed and awarded a rating. They cover three types of impairment – Mobility, Hearing and Visual.

(must be booked in conjunction with a QiT annual assessment and further information can be found on your relevant sector specific page)
Make the most of your property’s potential and stand out as a specialist with any of the following Welcome Schemes: -

Walkers Welcome

Cyclists Welcome

Welcome Pets!

Families Welcome

is a consumer focused quality assessment service for Visitor Attractions; it helps to identify strengths of an Attraction and highlights development areas, based on industry examples.