The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) has launched the final version of its new grading criteria. Effective from October 1, the new criteria will bring greater consistency to the grading process and bring standards in line with international expectations, says the TGCSA. The new criteria can be viewed on the TGCSA’s website at www.tourismgrading.co.za.
The process of revising the grading criteria began almost two years ago after it was decided the standards needed to be updated according to international best practice. Thekiso Rakolojane, Marketing and Communications Manager for the TGCSA, says the consultation process involved vigorous engagement with the sector through road shows and workshops in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
Initially, responses from the sector were slow, with only 208 received by March this year. Following a successful TGCSA breakfast at Indaba, when the proposed new criteria were presented, responses shot up to 4 500 between March and June, an indication that industry was keen to let the council know where it was going wrong. Rakolojane says many considered the criteria too prescriptive. “We conceded a number of points raised by the industry, including concerns raised around air-conditioning systems and 24-hour security guards.”
The fee structure will also change, along with the implementation of the new criteria on October 1. Previously the fee charged was determined entirely by the number of rooms in the establishment but now this will be considered, along with the room rate and the star grading applied for. The nett average increase for all establishments will be 13 per cent from the previous year but properties on the lower end of the market will have a lower percentage increase. In addition, all new properties registering for grading will need to pay a R500 joining fee but properties joining this year, before December 31, will qualify for a R300 discount on this fee.
Invoicing is also set to move from monthly to a once-a-year invoice system from April 1, 2012. Traditionally the TGCSA invoiced accommodation establishments that chose to be graded directly before a visit from a grading assessor. This meant the council had to deploy a disproportionate amount of resources to process the monthly financial administration as more than 750 properties had to be processed monthly. A gradual phasing out of the old system will take place until properties have a common expiry date of March 31, 2012. From this point onwards, all establishments will have a common expiry date and will receive invoices for their annual grading status during the month of August and ensure payment before the end of November. The assessor will assess the property any time between April 1 and March 31 each year.
Along with the new criteria and fee structure come several other changes, including the introduction of new IT infrastructure. “The new system has been purchased from the UK and is the same one used to manage the Code of Britain’s website,” says Rakolojane. “It’s very technologically inclined and user friendly.”
The TGCSA will also introduce a new grading plaque. This measure is being introduced to curb the illegal use of the star grading insignia by unscrupulous operators. This will be done through two features, including a new unique serial number that will be linked to the client identity on the back office of the new IT system, as well as an ownership statement that will give the TGCSA the legal right to remove the plaque if necessary.
Thembi Kunene, Chief Quality Assurance Officer for the TGCSA says: “We will be coming down hard on all those abusing our star grading insignia. The reliance on our star grading system by local and international tourists leaves us no other choice. It is critical for all establishments to take note that going forward, the grading plaque will be issued by the TGCSA and no longer can establishments purchase it directly from the manufacturer. This is an essential added benefit being extended to the graded establishments since the cost of the new plaque will henceforth by borne by the TGCSA.”
The next phase will see the review of the criteria for the camping and caravan, backpackers and conference venues. The TGCSA is hoping this process will be complete by the end of March 2011.
