Welsh guesthouses on five-star par with hotel
Six hotels and guesthouses have been awarded five stars after the latest inspections for the Wales Tourist Board's (WTB) grading scheme.
The Welsh scheme, like its Scottish counterpart, was set up despite the AA, RAC and English Tourist Board's desire for a uniform scheme across Britain.
The Welsh system, which differs from the old crown scheme by assessing the quality of accommodation as opposed to the range of facilities provided, will appear in the WTB's 1999 holiday brochure, due out next month. It will mean that several small guesthouses will be as highly graded as the grandest hotel.
The forthcoming launch of the scheme has worried some hoteliers, who fear that tourists will confuse it with the system implemented by the English, which assesses both quality and facilities (Caterer, 15 January, page 9).
But a WTB spokesman said it would not be misleading. He added: "It will end the confusion that often existed with the crown scheme, where people believed a high crown rating meant high quality, which is not always the case."
The six properties awarded five-star status are:
Acorn Court in Llandrindod Wells (three bedrooms).
Cyfie Farm in Llanfihangel (four bedrooms).
Ffynnon Feddyg in Newquay (two bedrooms).
Abergwynant Hall in Dolgellau (three bedrooms).
Hendre Farm House in Monmouth (three bedrooms).
Fairyhill hotel in Gower (eight bedrooms).
Until now, the 23-bedroom Llangoed Hall at Llyswen has been the only hotel with a five-star rating. More than 1,750 properties have been inspected and there are about 200 more to be seen.
By Louise Bozec
