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The AA has taken over the running of VisitEngland’s quality assessment and star-rating scheme after a contract was finalised on 10 April.
The announcement comes after there was a delay on the initial signing of the contract, due to disagreements. The deadline for the three-year contract was originally meant to be finalised on 1 April.
Sally Balcome, chief executive of VisitEngland, 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.”
Andrew Oxley, head of the AA’s hotel services, said the announcement was an “exciting new chapter” in AA’s 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,” he added.
Despite the contract, the VisitEngland Quality Assessments Schemes will continue to run separately from the AA’s current assessment schemes and participants will be able to choose between the two.
The AA and VisitEngland follow the same common standards for assessments, and the new contract will have no effect on current accolades and ratings acquired by participants.
