A short history of quality grading ...

Peter Birnie FIH MTS

What is quality grading ...

• What?• Who runs the schemes?• Hotelstars• Stars, diamonds etc

Five stars is not enough for some...

England and UK

• Graded sectors• Scottish Variations

Changes & Trends

• How do quality standards develop • Accessible• Green

Importance of Tourist Board grading

• Attempt of comprehensiveness• Quality control for smaller partners• One of a range of marketing benefits• “A higher purpose”

Faultlines & challenges ...

• Not compulsory• Membership value• Standards - consistency, complexity, consumer

perception• CGI

Grading Scheme Metrics

• National coverage• Comprehensive scale• Indication of quality by a scoring system• External assessment process• Marketing

Consumer Generated Information

• Tripadvisor• Late Rooms, Booking.com