IT IS wrong to say that the new-style English Tourist Board will lose responsibility for accommodation grading (Travel Weekly January 13).
The new ETBwill continue to have primary statutory responsibility for accommodation quality standards and for promoting best practice. The national body will have a more strategic role to play than the current ETB and is reducing some of its operational work. However, the harmonised accommodation rating schemes, agreed between the ETB, AAand RAC will certainly continue.
‘Diamond’ ratings for guest accommodation and ‘Star’ ratings for hotels will start being displayed from August.
Industry consultation on our proposals for the ‘Key’ scheme for self-catering accommodation is underway and the public launch of the strengthened British Graded Holiday Parks Scheme is scheduled for November.
Robyn Griffith Jones
ETB communications director
London