New research indicates that the South West is miles ahead in terms of choice of guest accommodation and self-catering properties.

In a recent VisitBritain survey on graded accommodation in the country, the following key information was revealed:

  • The South West has nearly double the number of 5 star Guest Accommodation of any other region.
  • The South West has over double the number of self-catering accommodation units in the National
  • Quality Assessment Scheme (NQAS) of any other region
  • The South West has double any other region in 5 star self-catering accommodation
  • 440 South West tourism businesses applied for grading by VisitBritain in the 3rd quarter of 2007 - double that of any other region
  • There were 7077 South West properties with current assessments with VisitBritain in September 2007

    Robin Barker, Deputy Chief Executive of South West Tourism, said: "These new results are extremely encouraging and go towards clarifying what we have known for ages, that the South West has the widest choice of quality-assured places to stay in the country."

The recent Hotel Inspector series on television has vividly demonstrated the value of assessment visits as part of developing a quality business. Quality of course comes in all shapes and sizes, with visitor choice influenced by an ever widening range of factors, but external assessment remains at the core of these and gives both visitors and organisations the confidence that each participating business will meet customer expectations.