The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) is offering free grading throughout February to establishments that have not yet been graded or where grading has lapsed for longer than three years so that they will be able to benefit from G20 visitors.

Speaking at a Western Cape workshop called The Road to G20, Bronwen Auret, Chief Quality Assurance Officer for the TGCSA, said: “We are going to be welcoming guests all over the world and we need to make sure that we are ready to receive them.”

She said grading is a quality assurance and, most importantly, a promise to visitors who will include world leaders, their support teams, the media and tour operators, among others.

“The TGCSA is responsible for our visitor assurance as far as accommodation and venues are concerned. It’s really important that we provide that quality assurance to everybody when they’re visiting South Africa,” said Auret.

Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director General in the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, said the G20 and its associated spin-offs, such as the B20 for business, will bring approximately 100 meetings to the province over the course of the year. He said the meetings range in size, making some opportunities accessible even to smaller businesses.

“If you want to know how to get involved with the G20, it starts with having your facility up to the standards of safety, environment and health required to host such an event.”

Toefy said grading is “about trust and quality assurance” and gives establishments an opportunity to distinguish themselves from other accommodation types and their competitors.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu emphasised the importance of working to “enhance the overall visitor experience and promote the country as a premier tourism destination”.

She said MICE travellers, in particular, always look for quality assurance and accommodation establishments and small businesses are missing opportunities because places are not graded.

Auret said the free February campaign is focusing on establishments that have never been graded or have not been graded for three years.

The comprehensive grading system covers formal accommodation like hotels, self-catering, camping and caravan sites, hostels and backpackers.

Outlining the process, Nelisiwe Yengwa, National Quality Assurance Manager for the TGCSA, said participants can apply online to be graded at www.tourismgrading.co.za. An assessor will then spend “a substantial amount of time taking you through the quality standards”.

She said the assessors are upskilled every second month on trends and what travellers are looking for. Once the assessment is complete, assessors will write a report with recommendations, which is then shared with the approvals committee. This committee sits once a month to review applications and assessments. Upon approval, establishments will receive their grading certificates and plaques to display at the property.

If an application is not approved, establishments will receive a list of areas in need of improvement to help them in future.

The Road to G20 workshops will also be held in Johannesburg and Mpumalanga.