National Quality Assurance Scheme (NQAS) ‘Star Gradings'

The National Quality Assessment Scheme or ‘stars' is widely recognised by customers. The star system allows customers to judge the standard of accommodation they would like for themselves. It also motivates businesses to continually improve or maintain their standards and encourages healthy competition.

There are two national assessing organisations for serviced accommodation (guest accommodation and hotel):

Quality in Tourism (on behalf of VisitEngland)

The AA

Both work to the same national standard and use independent, impartial assessors. Properties are given a quality rating of 1 to 5 stars and show the Enjoy England Quality Rose logo or the AA logo. These quality ratings indicated accommodation standard, cleanliness, ambience, hospitality, service and quality of food.

For self-catering the current assessing body is Quality in Tourism on behalf of VisitEngland.  Please note: The AA have recently started self-catering assessments, but are not using the Common Standards and therefore will not be recognised by VisitEngland or the Northwest Development Agency.  If businesses choose to be assessed by the AA, the grading will not be recognised as above and may restrict where they can advertise.

Star ratings are also accompanied by a category or ‘designator' which describe the assessment criteria, such as B&B, INN, HOTEL or SELF CATERING.

Full information about the standards can be found on the QIT website or contact Alyson Rhind at Cumbria Tourism on 01539 825046

How much does it cost?

The fees for assessment vary according to which assessing organisation you choose, the number of rooms or units in your property and your tariff.

Quality in Tourism has a fee calculator to help you work out the cost of assessment for your chosen scheme.

View prices for the AA recognition scheme

What are the benefits of achieving a ‘star' rating?

Both VisitBritain and the AA offer a wide variety of tangible benefits to participating in the National Quality Assurance Scheme and getting assessed. See their individual websites for more information.

A quality assessment offers many more benefits through the messages it sends to your customers. See Why Get Assessed for more information.

How do I get assessed?

To become quality assessed through either VisitEngland (VE) or the AA you need to apply and pay a fee. Before you apply, you should decide who you want to assess you, which scheme you want to be assessed under (eg Hotel as opposed to Guesthouse) and you should have read and understood the criteria and standards. Both organisations will let you download their documents so you can do your own assessment before you apply or pay.

After your application is accepted you will get an anonymous, incognito visit from an assessor if you are a serviced accommodation business. Other types of establishment will be contacted directly by an assessor who will arrange to come and see you at a mutually convenient time.

When the assessment is complete the assessor will give initial verbal feedback and then complete a more detailed report, which will be forwarded to you. Once you've received your grading and certificate, you can use the VE or AA quality logos in your advertising and signage.