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Staying in Sheffield
Accommodation Standards in England
VisitBritain, formerly the English Tourism Council, along with the Automobile Association (AA) and Royal Automobile Club (RAC), in response to consumer demand, has created quality standards for a wide sector of accommodation in England, which include:
Hotels: Star ratings
Awarded between one and five stars, the scheme focuses on quality including customer care, the range of services available, variety and standard of facilities. A one-star property will have at least 75% of bedrooms with en-suite or private facilities, while a five-star grading guarantees luxurious and spacious surroundings with the highest international quality of service and superb cuisine.
Guest accommodation (including Guesthouses, B&Bs, Inns, Farmhouses): Diamond Ratings
Guest accommodation is rated using one to five diamonds. The diamond ratings reflect consumer expectations of the sector, with quality seen as more important to visitors than
facilities and services. As a result, establishments are required to meet progressively higher standards of quality, cleanliness and guest care as they move up the scale.
facilities and services. As a result, establishments are required to meet progressively higher standards of quality, cleanliness and guest care as they move up the scale.
Self-catering: Star ratings
Self-catering accommodation is assessed on its overall quality, including comfort, space, facilities and cleanliness. Minimum entry requirements include pricing and conditions of booking must be made clear, local information should be provided to help guests make the best of their stay, the establishment must offer comfortable accommodation with a range
of furniture to meet guest needs, a colour TV (where signal available) at no extra charge and kitchen equipment to meet all needs.
of furniture to meet guest needs, a colour TV (where signal available) at no extra charge and kitchen equipment to meet all needs.
Full details of the standards for each rating are available on the Visit Britain website at www.visitbritain.com
Whilst there is no statutory obligation to participate in these grading schemes, Sheffield City Council, in line with similar organisations and with the support of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, only promotes accommodation which has been inspected, or where the proprietors are committed to the inspection process*. The only exceptions to this are where an exception is part of a national or international brand** or where the accommodation is of such an individual nature it does no fall within the national rating schemes.
* Quality standards information is provided by the individual establishments. Where possible this has been verified with the inspecting body. Sheffield Tourism accepts no responsibility for errors.
** Some national and/or international branded hotels carry out their own inspection processes. It is widely accepted that these do not participate in the rating schemes outlined on these pages. Hotels of this nature are, most usually, perceived as likely to be to an equivalent standard of at least 3 star.
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