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Let us keep our star rating system
Govennment department plans to replace stars with blogs.
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Catriona Wells Saturday 29 January 2011 |
As a child, I remember staying at an hotel with a yellow AA shield by the door which announced that the establishment had an AA star. Later, I stayed at both 2-star and possibly 3-star AA hotels. For some strange reason, my mother did not trust the RAC ratings and so I think we gave those hotels a miss.
Back in those days, there was also the neatly bound AA-Membership handbook which listed all of the towns with their population and early closing day. It also gave a list of the hotels and their star ratings.
Sadly, we have moved on from ‘those days’. Early closing on Wednesdays is no longer within our contemplation and even the star system is under threat.
The government's ‘tourism strategy’, whatever that is, is being drawn-up by officials from the department of Culture, Media and Sport. Do these people not have proper jobs to go to?
They are expected to argue that the star system does not reflect value for money or what guests now want. Their plan is that guests should post anonymous reviews on a website to encourage or discourage future visitors. Presumably, these departmental wallahs have not read some of the tripe that is published on these un-moderated feedback sites.
At the moment, bodies such as Visit England grade accommodation much as the AA used to do. They also give gold and silver awards to those that they regard as the best in each classification section. This system of grading is certainly slower and more considered than the subjective and sometimes malicious web blog but it may give a much more objective view of the establishment.
We all now that it can be difficult to judge a hotel. You can have a great weekend and recommend it to friends who then have a dreadful time because the manager changed or the chef was sick.
I can see some value in reading blogs from recent visitors but please do not just throw away a star-rating system that has stood the test of time.
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Cheryl Murray 2 February 2011, 03:42PM | |
Good point Catriona. It is such a sham the neatly bound AA membership handbook is not around any more, it was a useful tool. You are right too that one person's experience is not the same as another's. | |
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Alec, Braintree 7 February 2011, 01:50PM | |
Catriona makes valid points, however I think with such useful tools as the Internet most of us don't make the time to sit and look through a guide they will just look at the reviews online. | |
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Pam, Surrey 7 February 2011, 08:57PM | |
I to miss the traditional AA membership handbok and always relied on the star rating, but it appears that like alot of good old fashioned tools we are faced with turning to the computer. | |
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Luisa, Bexley 8 February 2011, 10:22AM | |
Times have moved on and we have to accept that things like the AA guide have become obsolete. I would rather have the information online. | |
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Millan, Blackpool 8 February 2011, 01:21PM | |
I believe that personal recommendations are the best. I have on many occasions in the past checked guide books and arrived to hotels only to be disappointed. | |
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Gabby Stone, Northamton 8 February 2011, 08:12PM | |
I really would be sad to see the star rating disappearing, it may not be the main factor when choosing your weekend away but it is certainly still a part of the consideration when choosing your place. I agree that the World Wide Web is the first port of call for me but even within that a star rating is widely used with many companies. However, should you be stuck in the middle of nowhere without a place to stay that little bound book is the perfect car companion and believe me I have been there many a time. | |
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Brain, Wilmington 10 February 2011, 12:34PM | |
Why oh why is everything that was once so popular being replaced with online technology. I understand the need to move with the times but getting rid of the good old bound book is sheer madness. Only the other day when I took my daughter to the library I heard the librarian discussing the council maybe closing it down. | |
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David J Kennett 13 February 2011, 05:00PM | |
The star system has very little to do with quality or enjoyment. It simple indicates what kind of hotel it is and what facilities to expect. | |
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Hilary, Suffolk 7 March 2011, 12:00PM | |
I agree with David. The AA guide was once the book that actually gave us a true guide to what we could expect to get from a particular hotel. However the Internet has allowed us to obtain so much more information and is a great tool. | |
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Henry, Cliffs End 17 March 2011, 01:18PM | |
Rating systems are a bit flawed in that hoteliers have to pay to be part of the rating agency but they do give a clear guide to classification. | |
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