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NEW Zealand's tourist accommodation providers, operators and attractions now have a nation-wide badge of quality.
Qualmark is now the country's tourist official quality assurance agency, backed by Tourism New Zealand, Automobile Association and leading tourism industry associations.
The new official quality mark is designed to direct visitors to tourism products and services that have undergone a rigorous quality assessment and licensing process and can be trusted to deliver quality-assured experiences.
The new brand incorporates the stylised silver fern also used by Tourism New Zealand and links industry quality assurance with international tourism marketing.
Qualmark now offer two comprehensive assessment and licensing systems:
* Qualmark star grading - for accommodation
* Qualmark endorsement - for adventure tourism, visitor transport, attractions and activities.
The star grading system has been upgraded and expanded and now includes two new categories - Guest and Hosted accommodation, and Hotel accommodation.
A Luxury Retreats category is planned for 2003. The stars range from one (acceptable) to five (exceptional).
A separate system endorses non-accommodation tourism businesses based around rigorous quality standards. Instead of a star grade, business are assessed on a pass or fail basis.
Standards focus on customer service, facilities and equipment, people, environmental and cultural aspects, general safety and welfare and overall business operations.
Qualmark rolled out five new endorsement systems in July for horse trekking, sea kayaking, charter boats, scenic flights and retail.