Welsh hotels fear confusion over quality

The Wales Tourist Board (WTB) has decided to re-name the inspectors for its new star rating system and call them "quality advisors".

But as the WTB begins inspections of its 4,000 members, Welsh hoteliers still have mixed feelings about the new system.

Although this quality-based grading scheme favours the large number of small hotels in Wales, some hoteliers fear tourists will get confused with the system implemented by the English Tourist Board, AA and RAC (see above), which combines quality and facilities.

Joan Reen, joint-owner of the eight-bedroom Ynyshir Hall hotel at Eglwysfach, Dyfed, said: "We are not concerned that we will come off badly in the inspections. Our main concern is whether the public will understand."

Others fear the new inspections will be too subjective. Alwyn Phillips, manager of the 10-bedroom Trewern Arms, Nevern, Dyfed, said: "Assessing quality is a personal decision."

But Jeffrey Pride, development director at WTB, said inspections under the scheme, which mirrors that adopted by the Scottish Tourist Board last year, would be less prescriptive than under the former system.

The inspections will be completed by July in time for the 1999 brochure to be published this autumn.