The new common standards for hospitality accommodation have received some criticism in recent issues of Caterer and Hotelkeeper, but there are two sides to every story.

Best Western endorses the common standards and firmly believes that the new, unified system will be for the benefit of accommodation providers and their customers alike.

And we not are alone in holding this view. Research carried out by Beacon, the procurement division of Best Western, which also provides purchasing services for more than 1,800 independent hospitality businesses in the UK, showed that more than 70% of these operators supported the new common standards.

Fundamentally this set of unified criteria is a turning point for the industry because it commits all three tourist boards as well as the AA motoring association to one scheme. This means that the customer (both domestic and international) is not confused by the plethora of different schemes and ratings that we were previously operating under. Therefore, from a customer's perspective, whether they stay at a three-star hotel in Land's End or a three-star hotel in John O'Groats, they will receive the same services and facilities.

On a personal note, I have been campaigning for the past 20 years for a scheme such as the new common standards one. Having lived through crowns, seahorses, stars and suns - among others - it is great finally to see common sense has prevailed and everyone agreeing to one set of criteria.

The common standards will bring consistency where previously there was confusion (69% of the businesses we questioned felt that the previous system was confusing) and the task we now face is to raise awareness with the people
who matter most - our customers.

Keith Pope
Best Western Hotels

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