AAA Tourism’s well-known accommodation classification scheme has been expanded to Fiji with the Outrigger On The Lagoon recently being awarded five-star rating.

The group already provides ratings for approximately 11,000 accommodation properties in Australia, but this is the first time the scheme has been applied internationally.

Outrigger On The Lagoon Fiji’s general manager Paul Hughes said the assessment was the culmination of a worldwide search for the best rating system that could reward the group’s efforts to improve every aspect of the resort’s performance.

“The 5 STAR Rating is a difficult one to achieve and just as difficult to maintain,” Hughes said.

“The Australian rating system is also familiar to the majority of our guests and therefore offers some form of comfort to those booking holidays with us. It also assists our major wholesale partners in promoting our resort to the general public.”

In 2003 the Outrigger On The Lagoon was awarded the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Deluxe Accommodation Award.

A five-star rating is the highest rating available under AAA Tourism’s accommodation classification scheme.

The group uses more than 500 criteria to assess a property and determine its rating between one and five stars. Properties are assessed on the level of facilities, maintenance and cleanliness.

Each property is assessed on a 14-month cycle and compliance is audited on-site by Accommodation Assessors using Personal Digital Assistants that record and transmit data directly to AAA Tourism’s central database.

Ratings categories include Hotel/motel, Backpacker, Houseboat, Resort, Bed and Breakfast, Caravan Park, Park Cabin and Self Catering Accommodation.