VisitEngland’s unique Gold and Silver awards are given in recognition of exceptional quality within a property's star rating, or for outperforming a star rating. Serviced accommodation (hotels and guest accommodation) are eligible to receive either a Silver or Gold award, where as self-catering and serviced apartments (new for 2009) are able to achieve a Gold award only.
The assessment criteria for obtaining a Gold or Silver award varies between types of accommodation. However, properties do need to be a member of VisitEngland’s Quality Assessment Scheme in order to go for an award.
Serviced Accommodation:
For serviced accommodation, consistent levels of high quality must be demonstrated in all key areas identified by consumers as very important. High quality scores must be achieved as follows:
For guest accommodation, the areas are:
• Housekeeping
• Hospitality
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Breakfast
And for hotels:
• Housekeeping
• Hospitality
• Service
• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Food
A minimum overall score needs to be achieved but, as with Silver and Gold awards for serviced accommodation, we also take into consideration the scores of five key areas: cleanliness, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, public areas.
In 2009, we awarded 52 hotels and 286 guest accommodation with Gold awards, and 158 hotels and 1,300 guest accommodations with Silver awards.
What are the criteria for Silver and Gold awards for Hotels and Guest Accommodation?
• They can only be awarded for the first time at an overnight stay
• Awards are confirmed with the written assessment report
• Gold awards require confirmation by one of Quality in Tourism’s Area Managers, which may mean a second ‘mystery visit’
• Gold and Silver award hotels receive overnight visits every year and Silver award properties every other year
• Eligibility for an award is triggered by the overall score meeting a minimum level PLUS a minimum score in each of the critical areas. In hotels, higher scores are required at the high star ratings (see tables below)
• Your assessment report will show your scores in all areas, so you can check how close you are to achieving an award
For more information on the scores which need to be achieved, click here.
Self-Catering Accommodation and Serviced Apartments:
VisitEngland recently announced a new Gold award for its self-catering businesses. The awards have been given to the top scoring 5-star properties and all 4-star properties with 5-star quality scores that are 'capped' because they don't offer all the facilities and services required to achieve 5 stars. (eg. bath AND shower). The same applies to a few 2 and 3-star properties with high 4-star quality scores. This will mirror the hotels and guest accommodation awards, which can be achieved by properties at all star levels.
Additionally, a number of 4-star Gold awards have been given to the properties with high overall scores and solid scores in the sectional consistency areas, to include public areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and cleanliness.
Following feedback from owners, we have reviewed the original policy of issuing the self-catering Gold awards on an annual basis only. The Gold awards are now triggered automatically with the publishing of the assessment report.
The award is for the individual unit only. In multi-unit businesses, it is important to show clearly on websites which units have received the award.
To find out whether you are close to achieving a Gold award, or for more information and general hints and tips on how to achieve one, click here.
Displaying your award…
Individual recipients of a Gold or Silver award will receive a certificate congratulating them on their achievement, which can be displayed in the property. The Gold or Silver award logo can also be displayed on all websites. Signs for each award can be ordered from Alpen Signs, VisitEngland's supplier.
Why not take a look at what Gold and Silver awarded accommodation has to offer…
All Gold and Silver award properties are listed in the Official Tourist Board Guide to Quality-Assessed Accommodation (formerly known as the 'Where to Stay Guides') found in all good bookshops. They can also be found on our EnjoyEngland and VisitBritain websites.
