YORK waited decades for its first five-star standard hotel before the Cedar Court Grand opened last year – but now the Government is suggesting state backing should be withdrawn from the official star-rating system.

A new tourism strategy to be published next month will suggest the system should be phased out in favour of customer reviews posted online.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport claims collective rankings more accurately reflect holidaymakers’ concerns.

Tourism Minister John Penrose is reported to believe that official ratings systems are too often unreliable and unfair, not only for the industry but also for the consumer.

But the move comes as the Cedar Court Grand is hoping to be officially classified as York’s first five-star hotel by the AA later this year.

A spokesman for the hotel in Station Rise said it was understood the Government’s move related only to Visit Britain’s star system, and not the AA’s star system, which was independent.

He said the Grand had been in consultation with the AA for at least three years about the product and service standards at the Grand, which the hotel believed would merit a five-star standard later this year. “An objective star rating system is an international standard, so for an international hotel such as the Grand, it is important to have such a standard for visitors, whether they be from Wetherby or Wyoming.”

He said the Grand did get “very good reviews” on sites such as Trip Advisor, but believed both systems had their merits.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, said it needed to protect quality standards in York but at the same time find a system that worked in the modern age of online communications.

She said: “We fully appreciate that the way people research and book their accommodation is changing and we need to adapt to these changes.”

“The challenge is to make sure standards are upheld and at the same time offer consumers clear guidance on choosing their accommodation.

“We are in discussion with various organisations and accommodation providers on the best way forward.”