THEENGLISH Tourism Council has admitted its new accommodation grading scheme, which comes into operation next week, is “not perfect” and has made a fresh call for a national scheme incorporating Scotland and Wales.
The ETC’s scheme, created jointly with the AAand RAC, is set to be launched by Culture Secretary Chris Smith on September 13 in London.
But consumers are likely to be confused as the Scottish Tourist Board introduced a separate scheme in 1997 and the Wales Tourist Board a different one at the start of this year. The AA and RAC will implement their grading system UK-wide.
ETC acting chief executive Elaine Noble said: “What we have got is a huge step in the right direction, but the best solution for customers is a unified scheme across the whole country.
“I am not trying to pretend the ETCscheme is absolute perfection. It’s a start in trying to make this work.”
Noble stressed that the three existing grading schemes were not that far apart. And she added the ETC’s door was not closed to new talks.
Previous discussions about creating a unified system broke down after two years, because the STB and WTB wanted to concentrate on the quality of accommodation, while the ETC, RAC and AA wanted to focus on facilities (Travel Weekly February 6 1997).
Wales Tourist Board head of trade relations Chris Coleman agreed its scheme and the ETC one were similar although their approaches to grading were different.
He claimed the WTB was happy to talk again about a national scheme.
An STB spokeswoman said: “We would eventually be in favour of working out a national scheme. “In the past it hasn’t worked because our criteria are different.”
British Incoming Tour Operators Association chief executive Richard Tobias said: “If there was a willingness to enter talks to harmonise the three schemes it would receive considerable support from the industry.”
n Noble has confirmed she will apply for the post of ETC chief executive when it is advertised within the next few weeks.
Noble, who is currently operations director, became acting chief executive following the departure of former head Tim Bartlett on April 30.