Your guide to the star grading system

The objective of the star grading of caravan and camping resorts is to lead to an improvement of standards in the industry, and to offer a system that is credible and understood locally and internationally, thereby ensuring a high standard of courtesy, cleanliness and service. All caravan and camping resort owners can voluntary apply for the star grading of their resort for a grading of between one and five stars.

Each resort wishing to be graded firstly needs to comply with the minimum criteria as set out by the Tourism Grading Council (TGCSA). A resort that carries even a one star rating is a top resort, albeit not the best resort around, as the resort will have met between 50 and 60% of the five star resort criteria. A one star resort should be proud of its achievements, and it will have met all the basic criteria needed to have attained a one star rating. This resort will have set its standards, and as time goes by, should strive to climb the ladder to stardom!

Please also remember that the star grading system does not measure the advantages offered by a sought after location, such as next to or located in a game park or right on the beach. Neither does the system reward a resort for being popular or for creating an emotional experience. We cannot and will not even try to award marks for good birding experiences or for having wonderful views. The main aim of the Star Grading System is to establish a system whereby resorts will be judged on the quality of the facilities, the quality of service offered and management efficiency offered by the resort.

The entire assessment and grading procedure is set out in a grading criteria document (available on www.tourismgrading.co.za), with a total of twenty-nine categories, covering areas such as exterior of buildings and grounds; sites; ablutions and bathrooms; scullery and laundry; communal and public areas; housekeeping; and general criteria such as management efficiency, that can be assessed. Each category is scored on a scale of one to ten. The assessor examines each category, determines the point value as per the documented criteria and records the score on an assessment form. With ten being excellent quality (five star) in as far as services, equipment, décor, paint and or tiling, nine as very good quality (four or five star), and eight representing good quality (three or four star) and so on down the scale to one as being unacceptable. (A one star resort scores a minimum of four or five out of ten, with ablution facilities having to score six or more out of ten).

The grade awarded to a park is based on percentage bands. Comparing the total marks scored against the total possible marks arrives at the percentage. The required overall score for each grading band is as follows:

• 5-Stars – 95.1% - 100% - An overall exceptional standard with superior quality and luxurious facilities, matching best international standards. Highest standard of facilities, service and meticulous guest care.
• 4-Stars - 86% - 95% - An overall excellent standard with excellent quality with a very high standard facilities, service and guest care.
• 3-Stars - 71% - 85% - An overall very good standard coupled with good quality with a high standard of facilities, service and guest care.
• 2-Stars - 61% - 70% - An overall good standard, offering above average quality in the overall standards of facilities, service and guest care.
• 1- Star - 51% - 60% - An overall fair and acceptable standard with acceptable/modest quality in the overall standard of facilities, service and guest care.

All Graded Resorts have preferential listing on the Tourism Grading Council’s website, www.tourismgrading.co.za, and on the South African Tourism Website, www.SouthAfrica.net, thereby giving graded establishments global exposure as a graded resort. Currently more than 130 caravan parks carry an official star grading.

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