Australia's new champion of accommodation standards
AAA Tourism is the new Champion of Accommodation Standards, with new branding and signage to promote its upgraded new STAR Rating Scheme. The new branding retains at its core AAA Tourism’s well known and respected STAR trade marks.
Following the recent launch of the new STAR Rating assessment program on behalf of Australia’s Auto Clubs, the new branding is appearing on 7,000 properties around Australia.
AAA Tourism CEO Peter Blackwell said travellers could engage immediately with the new STAR Rating Scheme by visiting www.starratings.com.au.
“When they see how we assess cleanliness and quality as well as facilities, they will know we really are the Champion of Accommodation Standards,” he said.
“More than 94% of travellers rate cleanliness their top priority, and most want quality to be rated too, but the real trick is to measure it.
“Through four years of working with travellers, industry and academia, we have developed a percentage score system that rates more than 200 different factors.
“Our criteria ensure a property has the cleanliness and quality to match its facilities – the accommodation you expect should be the accommodation you get.”
STAR Ratings divide properties into six categories: hotels, motels, serviced apartments, self-catering properties, hosted accommodation (B&Bs) and caravan/holiday parks.
The scheme traces its origins to 1915, when the Auto Clubs first provided their members with travel information, and builds on the national STAR Rating scheme introduced in 1963.
Mr Blackwell said the new STAR Ratings applied absolute objectivity in assessing the cleanliness, quality and condition of facilities.
“Our assessors apply strict criteria for dust, stains, and general wear and tear, and a property must score at least a ‘good’ rating for cleanliness to get any stars at all,” he said.
“Self-rated properties just don’t have the same credibility – like a survey that asked 2000 executives if they were in the top 10% of performers – and 90% said they were!”
Source: Accommodation Association of Australia, 23 May 2012
