AA's chief hotels inspector to quit

David Young, the AA's chief hotels inspector, is to quit at the end of the year, the latest in a flurry of departures by senior staff.

The AA claims that the latest announcement has no connection with the controversy surrounding the AA earlier this year when managing director Roger Wood overruled a decision to award a London restaurant five rosettes.

Even so, it was deemed necessary last week for Wood to spend an hour answering questions from its inspectors about recent events, during an internal conference.

"Roger Wood has assured inspectors that there is no question of their professional integrity being questioned," said a spokesman.

Young, who has been with the AA for 18 years, is to leave to set up his own hotel business and is in negotiations to buy a property.

"It is true that I have always wanted to own and run my own hotel and I have informed the AA of my future intentions. However, I am still finalising arrangements, so prefer not to disclose further details," he said.

In July, Simon Wright handed in his notice as editor of the AA Restaurant Guide after Wood overruled the guide's professional inspectors and refused to allow London restaurant Pétrus to be upgraded to five rosettes, a decision that was later reversed. Senior food inspector Sarah Peart resigned within weeks, followed by the editor of the AA Hotel Guide, Karen Brazier.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 3-9 October 2002