UK: Quality in Tourism’s (QT) Safe, Clean & Legal accreditation has seen renewed interested in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with 700 additional enquiries being processed.
In a survey commissioned by QT, 80 per cent said that it was “highly important” or “important” that any prospective property they visit in the future had a recognised accreditation for its cleaning.
64 per cent will expect these cleaning standards to have undergone independent spot checks, and 73 per cent will be reassured that the property is cleaned to the highest level if has an independent accreditation.
SilverDoor, the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), Best Western Great Britain, and the Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) are some of the industry leaders adopting and endorsing QT’s accreditation scheme.
Current figures include:
- 500 independent hotels and accommodation providers across the UK, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
- SilverDoor apartments have 1400 property listings. The partnership was agreed in February 2020 with properties encouraged to sign up.
- STAA, the Short Term Accommodation Association have been recommending Safe, Clean & Legal to their member agencies since March 2019.
- Best Western Great Britain signed 297 Hotels in May 2020 in response to Coronavirus.
Deborah Heather, director at Quality in Tourism, said: “Our robust Safe, Clean and Legal accreditation scheme has been in operation since 2018 and is a proven tool that protects both guests and providers whilst driving accommodation standards. We have updated the scheme and introduced additional cleaning protocols surrounding Coronavirus to support the industry to re-open. Our accreditation scheme inspects accommodation providers against best practise guidelines and audits their application of new protocols, before being visited by a Quality in Tourism assessor and, if successful, awarding them with the marque that will reassure guests.
“The application of industry regulations remains inconsistent which is why we launched the accreditation scheme in 2018, but it has gained additional relevance following the Coronavirus outbreak. It is the only accreditation which includes a physical inspection and which does not award a marquee on the basis of self-certification by the accommodation provider,” she added.
Toby Roberts, quality assurance and compliance officer for SilverDoor Apartments, said: “We undertook an expansive project focusing on quality assurance and compliance and see third party accreditation certifications such as Quality in Tourism a key part in this. After thoroughly vetting multiple accreditation bodies we are proud to be recommending Quality in Tourism who share the common goal of driving forward the serviced apartments industry standards.”
Quality in Tourism carries out assessments of hotels, guest houses, B&B’s, self-catering accommodation as well as home stays and apartments across the UK. </p
