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GTOs react to new ‘tourist tax’ for day trippers to Venice
Group travel organisers have had their say on a new entry fee for Venice which aims to curb over-tourism.
VisitEngland has announced that the AA has been awarded a contract to run the VisitEngland Quality Assessment Schemes under licence for the next three years.
The AA has more than 100 years’ experience inspecting and rating hotels and guest accommodation across the UK and follows the same common standards used by VisitEngland and the national tourist boards in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The VisitEngland Quality Assessment Schemes will remain separate to the AA’s existing assessment schemes and accommodation providers will continue to be able to choose between the VisitEngland and AA accommodation schemes.
All current ratings, logos, marques and accolades remain unchanged.
VisitEngland chief executive Sally Balcombe said: “I am delighted to announce this contract which guarantees the standards and expectations our scheme participants have come to expect whilst maintaining continuity of service and also matching our ambitions to develop the schemes further and add value.”
The AA promotes its partners with accommodation ratings through a range of printed and online marketing. The team can also help and advise proprietors, to increase their guests' satisfaction and so help their businesses to be more competitive.
The AA’s head of Hotel Services, Andrew Oxley said: “Being awarded the licence to run the VisitEngland schemes is the start of an exciting new chapter in our history. For the last 20 years we have worked together closely in developing the common standards, and we now look forward to supporting VisitEngland’s aims of helping a wide range of tourism businesses grow in quality and profitability.”
For further information visit www.visitengland.com or www.theaa.com/hotel.
Pictured: Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu. (Photo credit: VisitEngland and New Forest District Council).
