CANADA SELECT DESIGNATIONS (2006)

It is of vital importance that the promotion and growth of tourism products in our province are guided by appropriate standards and quality. For this reason approved accommodators are subject to a standardized system of minimum requirements that evaluates cleanliness and the state of repair of tourism accommodation properties. By establishing minimum standards of cleanliness, comfort and courtesy, visitors are confident their selections of accommodations when listed as approved accommodations will be met.

Beyond the approved accommodation guidelines established by Tourism British Columbia, there are other guidelines and rating programs including Canada Select and Access Canada that are applied to BC accommodation.

Tourism BC uses the star designation guidelines know as Canada Select and assigns star ratings for accommodations operating under the British Columbia Approved Accommodations Guide. Increasingly, visitors are seeking accommodation establishment by the number of stars.

While on the surface this probably seems a fair way of do the evaluation, in fact a five star hotel is not a five star bed and breakfast, nor are they judged the same. The components of cleanliness and state of repair should never be questioned but some of the other requirements to meet the designation are a challenge.

Recently, the fixed roof accommodators (bed and breakfast, guest houses, small inns, and small resorts) are concerned with their ability to comply with the Canada Select criteria and equally concerned that visitor are seek out the higher Canada Select star designation without understanding the differences in criteria.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That Tourism BC conduct an immediate review of Canada Select designations based on quality of products offered not on amenities provided.