Star quality
IF you can afford only one holiday a year, then deciding where to stay on the basis of an average measure of the whims of other customers will make it that bit harder. That's why the official star rating system for the nation's hotels should be preserved. It is based on the impartial assessment of judges who have seen thousands of such places.
Consumer-led websites, in contrast, can only ever present a small sample of the views of those so pleased, or more likely so annoyed, that they feel moved to comment. Of course, sites like TripAdvisor have a place and mean holidaymakers can read dozens of other opinions before they choose their destination, but they cannot provide the confidence brought by the official ratings, which are backed by the national tourist board.
So VisitEngland is right to stick with the current assessment scheme, which has long been used by proprietors and holidaymakers alike. They know travelling is best done in expectation, rather than in hope and uncertainty.