Quality grading for tourism businesses
Tourism NI鈥檚 five star quality grading scheme for tourism businesses, and details and benefits of other tourism quality accreditations.
In service industries like hospitality and tourism, quality is the key to success.
Customers expect the very best of services and facilities in return for their money. They want to be sure that tourism products they choose will meet, if not exceed, their expectations. Achieving quality grading for your business is one way of assuring high standards.
Quality grading gives consumers easily recognised symbols and standards of service they can trust. It gives them confidence to make informed choices about your product, and shows them your commitment to maintaining the quality for each and every customer.
Tourism NI is a member of the UK Common Standards Grading Scheme. It provides Quality Grading Schemes to acknowledge the quality of Northern Ireland tourism businesses. While quality grading is voluntary, Tourism NI certification is legally required.
This guide will outline the advantages of quality grading for tourism businesses, and will help you learn more about Tourism NI Quality Schemes and other schemes. To find out more about certification, see tourist accommodation certification.
Tourism five-star rating system
Tourism NI鈥檚 five star rating system indicates the quality and standards of various types of tourism business including accommodation and visitor experiences.
Tourism NI uses a one to five-star rating system for tourism businesses. The star ratings show the standard of customer care and the quality of services and facilities.
How does star-grading work?
The number of stars awarded shows the levels of quality customers can expect from the assessed business:
- five star - an exceptional, world-class standard
- four star - an excellent standard
- three star - a very good standard
- two star - good overall standard
- one star - a fair and acceptable standard
Star gradings cover accommodation and tourism experiences, including:
- serviced, self-catering and hostel accommodation
- visitor experiences such as tours, activities centres and museums etc
- caravan and camping parks
The awards focus on the standard of the welcome, hospitality and services provided. They also assess the presentation and condition of facilities.
Advantages of quality grading for tourism businesses
Being quality graded by Tourism NI can bring a number of benefits to your business, including improving your reputation and giving you a competitive advantage.
Being associated with a well-known recognition scheme, such as the Tourism NI's Quality Grading Scheme, can make a big difference to how customers view your business.
As well as letting your customers know that what you offer is of nationally recognised standard, the benefits of being quality graded also include:
- improve your reputation and be seen as a credible business
- assure you customers about the quality of services and facilities you provide
- increase customer satisfaction and the chance of repeat business
- give you a competitive advantage over non-accredited businesses
Being quality graded also gives you the chance to promote your business in a number of ways:
- use approved and recognised plaques, logos and signage to highlight and promote your star-rating
- get access to Tourism NI's marketing and social media opportunities, and presence in a range of marketing and promotional campaigns
- join Tourism NI's specialised Welcome Schemes which are free to all accommodation scheme members
Finally taking part in quality grading schemes will provide you with access to expert advice, training and ongoing 91香蕉黄色视频 from the Tourism NI Quality Assessors. The Quality Assessors will assess your business once a year and advise you on how to make the most of your business.
Tourist Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme
The entry requirements and assessment process for tourist accommodation businesses to get a star rating from Tourism NI as part of the Quality Grading Scheme.
In Northern Ireland, all tourist accommodation must be certified by Tourism NI to ensure minimum standards of service and quality are met. For more information, see tourist accommodation certification.
However, participating in the Tourist Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme is voluntary.
Tourism NI鈥檚 Quality Grading Scheme is the same common standards scheme that is used by the AA and other national tourist boards in Scotland, England and Wales.
The scheme uses a five-star rating system and is designed to give visitors a clear idea of the standards they can expect for:
- hospitality
- service
- cleanliness
- comfort
- food
For details on what each star rating means, see Tourism Quality Grading Scheme and five-star rating system.
Entry requirements
To receive your star rating you must meet nationally recognised standards of customer care and quality.
The will be different for different types of accommodation. Entry requirements for hostels will vary greatly from entry requirements for B&Bs and hotels.
Assessment process
Your star rating will depend on the quality scores you receive in your Quality Grading Assessment. The assessment will be carried out by the Tourism NI Quality Assessors. You will be awarded a rating between one to five stars.
The assessment will focus on the quality of your premises and the visitor experience you provide. The assessment is separate from the statutory certification inspection.
For serviced accommodation premises there will be an initial mystery overnight stay. The assessor will not tell you they are an assessor. You will find this out the next morning when the assessor will take you through the assessment process and criteria.
The assessor will give you their notes and advice on possible improvement during the initial consultation. An assessment report and a Quality Grading Certificate and plaque will follow by post.
When you apply to be assessed under the Quality Grading Scheme, you will incur an appropriate to your accommodation category.
Tourism visitor experience quality grading scheme
The types of tourism business and attractions eligible for the Tourism NI visitor experience quality grading scheme, and the process to become quality graded.
Tourism businesses that offer a quality visitor experience to tourists are eligible to become members of the Visitor Experience Quality Grading Scheme.
Visitor experiences include:
- museums
- castles
- historic houses
- art venues
- gardens
- tours
- wildlife experiences
- garden centres
Visitors experiences are assessed by standard core criteria, and include pre-arrival and arrival experiences. Specific criteria, such as catering, retail and toilets, are tailored to reflect differences between types of experiences. These criteria are only included in the assessment if they are a part of the overall experience.
Assessment
To take part in the scheme, visitor experiences need to apply to Tourism NI for assessment. Assessment visits are carried out 'incognito', ie without prior notice. This allows the assessors to experience an authentic customer journey.
During the visit, the assessor will look at the condition and standard of facilities and services, and then give feedback on the findings. They will also provide advice on other sources of business 91香蕉黄色视频.
If your visitor experience achieves an award, Tourism NI will provide a range of benefits, including:
- a plaque
- a web logo
- written report
- award certificate
The annual subscription fee for businesses on Tourism NI's Visitor Experience Quality Grading Scheme is 拢150.
See an example of a local visitor experience participating in the Tourism NI Quality Grading Scheme.
Quality grading of caravan and camping parks
Tourism NI鈥檚 voluntary five star rating quality grading scheme for caravan and camping parks and the facilities that are assessed.
Holiday, touring and camping parks and pitches can also apply for .
Under the UK-wide British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme, parks are inspected and given a star-rating to reflect overall quality standards of the services and facilities provided.
The highest rating of five stars is for parks of exceptional quality, whereas one star rating is for parks of acceptable quality.
The inspector will assess:
- cleanliness
- reception and efficiency of service
- general maintenance, layout and landscaping
- park facilities, such as shops, clubs and restaurants,
- recreation, sport and leisure
- park grounds and facilities, such as lighting, signage and refuse disposal
- toilet and washing facilities
- pitches, including layout, spacing and service connections
To obtain and maintain their star-rating, parks have to undergo annual assessments usually in a form of unannounced day visits.
Accommodation welcome schemes
Tourism NI welcome schemes for accommodation providers to recognise businesses that cater for specific groups such as families, cyclists, film crews and more.
Tourism NI are designed for serviced, self-catering and hostel accommodation providers who are members of the Quality Grading Scheme.
The Welcome Schemes help direct visitors to suitable establishments that pay particular attention to their various needs. They recognise the special effort made by businesses to provide services that welcome visitors' particular need - be it walking, cycling, angling or simply holidaying with family.
The Welcome Schemes currently in operation in Northern Ireland are:
- Anglers Welcome
- Cyclists Welcome
- Dogs Welcome
- Families Welcome
- Golfers Welcome
- Walkers Welcome
- Groups Welcome
- Film Crew Welcome
- Bikers Welcome
- Mountain Bikers Welcome
The Welcome Schemes are free to all members of the Tourism NI Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme. If you wish to apply for one of the Welcome Schemes, your Quality Advisor will verify that the required facilities are available when they visit.
Green Tourism Certification
Certification for tourism businesses who meet certain environmental performance criteria including wastes management and biodiversity: bronze, silver or gold.
certification is open to:
- all types of tourist accommodation
- visitor centres
- activity providers
- businesses that service the tourism industry.
Every two years each of the Green Tourism Members are visited and assessed by a qualified professional a set of environmental performance criteria, such as:
- energy and water efficiency
- waste management
- biodiversity
- procurement
- community involvement
Following the assessment, businesses will acheive receive a bronze, silver, or gold award.