Get your stars in time for 2010

The 2010 Soccer World Cup and other interational events being held in South Africa can provide a welath of business for accommodation providers. Make sure your establishment is properly accredited so you can take advantage of these opportunities.

If you are the owner of a non-hotel establishment, such as a B&B, game lodge or guest farm and would like to be registered on MATCH's room-booking system, then this is what you need to do.

As as B&B or lodge owner you will have to be visited by the Tourism Grading Council to be assessed on how many stars your establishment is worthy of being awarded, before you can be accreditted for the World Cup. With your grading in hand, you can then approach MATCH.

To be listed with them, will enter into an agreement with MATCH, whereby you will undertake to sell 80% of the rooms you will have available come World Cup 2010 - at a fixed price. The price is calculated as 2007's net or discounted rate, plus 16%. With regard to room booking, Match may charge up to 30% more than this price. The guest pays MATCH, upon making a booking, but you only get paid after the customer checks in - in 2010.

Once the contract is signed, the details of your B&B will be posted on the Fifa.com website.

Benefits of having your establishment graded:

• Graded establishments have the right and are required to display the Grading Council plaque outside their premises and the certificate inside their premises to display their star rating and indicate that they meet or exceed the Grading Council's requirements

• Graded establishments may use the Grading Council logo (star) in all their marketing material

• All graded establishments will be listed on the Tourism Grading Council website with the following details: name of establishment, contact person, telephone and fax number, category, address, email address and web-site details with link to establishment's website for reservation purposes

• All graded establishments get a free listing in the annual TGCSA Accommodation Guide and advertising is also available. The TGCSA Accommodation Guide is the only accommodation guide distributed by SA Tourism via its call centre and offices worldwide, conference venues are listed in the Accommodation Guide

• Conferencing establishments are included as listed in the guide

• South African Tourism endorses and uses star graded establishments ahead of non-graded establishments as listed on the official South African Tourism website http://www.southafrica.net/.

Getting your stars however, comes at a cost. From R1452 for three rooms or less for the grading and joining fee (with an annual grading cost thereafter of R1389), to R2529 for the first year for up to 15 rooms, and an annual R2276 thereafter.

If you would to be graded and would like a breakdown of the fee structure, then visit: http://www.tourismgrading.co.za/