ETC boss to review hotel star system

A review of hotel grading systems used by the UK's tourist boards aims to come up with a unified scheme by next year.

Although the AA and the RAC now use the same star rating, there are discrepancies between some UK tourist boards. The English Tourism Council (ETC) uses two grading schemes: a star system for hotels and a diamond scheme for bed and breakfasts, guest houses, farmhouses and inns. Meanwhile, Visit Scotland and the Wales Tourist Board have a one- to five-star system for all accommodation.

"It is still confusing at the moment for people, but it is within everyone's interests to have a unified set of symbols," said a spokesman for the ETC.

Alan Britten, the outgoing chairman of the ETC, is to carry out the review. Britten is to be replaced by Sir Michael Lickiss in April.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 23-29 January 2003