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Tourist Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme

Quality Grading Scheme

Visitors increasingly demand high accommodation standards and the quality of your establishment will influence the future success of your business.

Quality Grading Scheme Case Study Cul-Erg B&B, Portstewart

Marie Maguire from 4* Cul-Erg House & Kitchen talks about how Tourism NI’s quality grading scheme has helped her B&B business continue to grow and exceed customer expectations.

For 75% of consumers, a star rating will influence their choice of hotel. The TNI Quality Grading Scheme is designed to give visitors a clear idea of the standards of accommodation, service and cleanliness, which they can expect during their stay. The scheme is open to hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering, hostels and guest accommodation; with premises having the ability to achieve a grading of between one to five stars.

Whilst it is a legal obligation for all tourist accommodation providers to have a certificate from Tourism NI in order to operate, participating on the Quality Assurance Grading Scheme is voluntary. Research does show that consumers value the star ratings provided by national tourist boards when planning where to stay.

Tourism NI’s Quality Assurance Grading Scheme is the same common standards scheme that is used by the AA and other national tourist boards in Scotland, England and Wales.

What they said...

The rating scheme has proved a valuable marketing tool when promoting Blessingbourne and meeting our visitors’ expectations. It has been a great asset to marketing the estate and attracting new business.

Blessingbourne Country Estate, Co. Fermanagh

Access to one-to-one advice from a team of experienced Quality Advisors.
Provision of a written report highlighting the strengths and weaknesses within your business with advice on how to maximise customer satisfaction.
Access to Tourism NI marketing support including a display on Tourism NI’s consumer website discovernorthernireland.com which receives over 2.9 million visitors each year, with more than 375,000 visitors sourcing information on tourist accommodation.
Provision of a suite of marketing support materials, including a star rating plaque, window sticker, certificate and web logo for use on your website and social media channels.
Access to Tourism NI’s specialist Welcome Schemes.

Accommodation Mark of Distinction

Improve your accommodation business with a quality award

PDF

Quality Grading Scheme Assessments

Grading Assessments are conducted each year and are carried out separately from the statutory certification inspection. For serviced accommodation premises the inspections require an initial overnight stay. Premises have the ability to achieve a grading of between one to five stars:

Assessment process

The assessment process for B&Bs, guest houses, guest accommodation, self-catering and hotel operators is as follows.

Step 1

Tourism NI receives and processes your application and payment. A Tourism NI quality Advisor will arrange a time to assess your premises.

Step 2

The Assessment process takes place. During the actual assessment process you should operate your premises as normal.

All serviced accommodation providers will receive an initial incognito overnight visit which will provide our Advisors with an insight into the actual experience received by paying-customers. Self-catering providers will receive a daytime assessment.

Step 3

On the following morning the Tourism NI advisor will introduce themselves and will take you through the scheme criteria. They will explain how the process works and will provide advice on possible quality improvement and constructive observations. Consultation for all accommodation providers with the Tourism NI Advisor normally last between one to two hours.

Step 4

An assessment report and a Quality Grading Certificate will be posted to you within 15 working days of the assessment completion. Reminder letters will be forwarded to you 1-month prior to your Quality Grading Expiring

Category	Per Premises	Minimum Price	Maximum Price	Including VAT
Hotels	£191	£191	£191	£229.20
Small Serviced Accommodation	£156	£156	£156	£187.20
Hostel	£158	£158	£158	£189.60
Campus	£158	£158	£158	£189.60
Self Catering (single unit)	£80	£80	£80	£96.00
Self Catering (multiple units)	£80 for first unit, plus £25 for each additonal unit	£80 plus £25	£505 (18 units)	£600.00 (18 units) £30 for each additional unit

Some properties that come out of our grading schemes continue to display Tourism Northern Ireland branding (signage, certificates, window stickers, text reference and/or logos) or claim to have a Tourism Northern Ireland star grade when they are not legally entitled to do so.

Displaying Tourism Northern Ireland signage, certificates, window stickers, text referencing and/or logos when no longer participating in our grading schemes is an offence under The Tourism (NI) Order 1992 and is misleading to potential guests/visitors.

We regularly monitor the use of signage, certificates, window stickers, text referencing and/or logos and we investigate any matters concerning improper signage to ensure appropriate action is taken.

If you find any establishments that are not in our schemes but are displaying Tourism Northern Ireland branding in any form, we want to know about it.

Contact our team in confidence below.

If you would like to find out more information on sourcing local produce please see the following guides:

Welcome Hamper

Tourist Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme Application

If you are interested in becoming Quality Graded, you can apply now online.

Apply Now

Further information

Welcome Schemes

Tourism NI's Welcome Schemes are designed for accommodation providers who are actively participating in Tourism NI's Quality Grading Scheme. For more information click here.

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Contents

Contents

Quality Grading Scheme

Visitors increasingly demand high accommodation standards and the quality of your establishment will influence the future success of your business.

Quality Grading Scheme Case Study Cul-Erg B&B, Portstewart

What they said...

The rating scheme has proved a valuable marketing tool when promoting Blessingbourne and meeting our visitors’ expectations. It has been a great asset to marketing the estate and attracting new business.

Blessingbourne Country Estate, Co. Fermanagh

Benefits for tourist accommodation providers of being quality graded

A Mark of Distinction

Accommodation Mark of Distinction

Quality Grading Scheme Assessments

Assessment Process

Assessment process

Fees

Guidance Notes and Assessment Criteria

Tourism NI Branding

Contact Us

Useful Resources

Tourist Accommodation Quality Grading Scheme Application

Further information

Welcome Schemes

Developing booking terms and conditions

Hotel Accommodation

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