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What the Diamond Awards denote

The Diamond awards assess guest accommodation at five levels of quality, from one Diamond at the simplest, to 5 Diamonds at the luxury end of the spectrum.

To be recognised at all under the new Quality Standards, establishments must provide sufficient quality in all areas of operation covered under the following headings to merit a minimum score of 1out of 5.

If they do not achieve sufficient quality in one of these areas they cannot be awarded a quality rating at all:

• Cleanliness and Housekeeping
• Service and Hospitality (Guest Care)
• Bedroom Facilities
• Bathroom, Shower, WC and en-suite Facilities
• Food Quality and Service
• Public Rooms
• Safety and Security, Exterior and Interior Appearance and Upkeep (General Requirements)

The awards take into account the level of general cleanliness, the comfort and degree of style and quality of the furnishings and decor throughout the establishment; the levels of service and hospitality displayed by owners and staff; the friendliness of the atmosphere; last but not least, the quality of the meals.

At all Diamond levels, cleanliness and good housekeeping are of the highest importance and the emphasis of the assessment for a Diamond rating is on guest care and quality rather than the provision of extra facilities.

The overall score in all the areas of operation is then converted to a percentage, and this determines the quality rating awarded. The quality percentage bands at each level are listed below and a fictitious example of an assessment is also shown to explain how an inspection visit is carried out:

At 1 Diamond level (Standard Quality): Quality Percentage 20% - 34%

At 2 Diamond level (Standard Quality): Quality Percentage 35% - 49%

At 3 Diamond level (Good Quality): Quality Percentage 50% - 69%

At 4 Diamond level (High Quality): Quality Percentage 70% - 84%

At 5 Diamond level (Outstanding Quality): Quality Percentage 85% plus