Andrew Moth, editor of Hotel & Restaurant, always writes an interesting editorial in his monthly magazine, which is widely read by the hospitality industry.  He is a true gentleman, and has become milder in his commentary over time, and now only occasionally rocks the boat.  In the March edition, however, he questions the future of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa’s accommodation star-grading system, which is sure to cause controversy, but probably reflects what many accommodation establishments feel.

Moth writes that the United Kingdom government-run star-grading system may soon see the withdrawal of government funding (he does not explain why, but it may be part of that country’s austerity drive, to cut spending).  He also states that he has been critical of the South African star-grading system, in that “the system is far from perfect”.  He writes: “But the vast majority of South Africa’s hotel rooms do not need a star grading to attract guests. The big national and international groups have their images to protect and, although there will always be cases where the experience does not match the brand promise, group-branded hotels in South Africa usually offer a good deal to savvy travellers”.  He highlights the views of Steenberg Hotel GM Gabi Gramm, who quite rightly asks: “Who needs stars when you are at the top of your game?”

Moth’s biggest gripe appears to be that the annual grading fees, which are intended for the marketing of South Africa, almost all land in the civil service pot, paying for “salaries, operating costs and unnecessary and unwarranted expenditure”.   He writes that our accommodation industry does not need civil servants or their marketing consultants to market our country as a business and leisure travel destination.  This should be left to the tourism product and service operators. 

Quite rightly Moth writes that the law of demand and supply will “deal” with those accommodation operators who do not meet acceptable quality standards, and that this does not have to be regulated by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

Last year we reported about the dramatic changes that the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa had planned for its grading system, spending a fortune on consultants advising them on the new system, only to face an outcry from the accommodation industry, many establishments threatening to withdraw their support or to not renew their grading.   The outcry clearly was large enough for the Tourism Grading Council to throw out most of the changes it had initially proposed, leaving the grading system largely as it had been before.

A number of Camps Bay guest houses, including Whale Cottage Camps Bay,  is considering not renewing their star-grading.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:  www.whalecottage.com  Twitter: @WhaleCottage