A review of the grading criteria is still on course to be complete by the end of November, says Darryl Erasmus, TGCSA Chief Quality Assurance Officer.
“If we finish at the end of November, we then have to take the review to the Awards Committee of the TGCSA [responsible for overseeing the implementation and management of the TGCSA's grading system] and South African Tourism board,” he said. “We obviously have to run it by the various entities, such as the National Department of Tourism and the ministry, to give them sight of the changes before we go to industry and say what’s been approved.”
Erasmus said universal accessibility criteria were not being reviewed at this stage. “The reason is that it only went into the market as a completed set of criteria at the beginning of this year, so it would be pointless to review it again.” He added that properties had the option of being assessed and accredited in this category.
While there was a need to drive universal accessibility, Erasmus pointed out that there was “quite a cost involved” in becoming accredited. Often a capital injection was needed. Further, some establishments didn’t want to convert if the changes meant some facilities became unsuitable for able-bodied guests.
But, he said, if South Africa wanted a portion of the universal accessibility travel spend, it would have to drive the universal accessibility mindshift. “We encourage more and more business to make sure they are accessible for any guest,” he said.
The TGCSA also launched a new website last week with improved search functionality for graded establishments.
How to get graded, grading criteria, and finding a grading establishment can now all be easily located on the website. It includes a step-by-step guide to the grading process, and a search facility by star category. There is also the option of singling out Lilizela award winners and universal accessibility accredited properties, explained Erasmus.
The new website also pulls all the imagery and messaging around the TGCSA’s coastal campaign which aims to help establishments around the coast prepare for the influx of visitors during the December holiday season. “In the coastal campaign we talk a lot to readying yourself as a coastal property for the barrage of people who are going to come over the December holidays,” said Erasmus.
Graded coastal establishments, as well as other graded establishments, can make use of ‘basket of benefits’ on the website, which is a business support system affording a wide range of discounts toward service upgrades. Examples are discounted purchasing of new crockery and glassware, sealing a deck or updating indemnity forms.
