Stay-on-Sea… with confidence!

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has been working in partnership with the national tourism body VisitEngland to increase the number of accredited accommodation properties in the town.

This has resulted in a further 13 properties being star-rated or receiving the new Visit Southend listed status since June.

The Council and its partners can now promote these properties in official publications and on websites as part of the town's local tourism offer.

Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism, Derek Jarvis, said. "We have been working with VisitEngland to increase the number of accredited accommodation providers in the area.

"We are delighted that these efforts have been rewarded with so many new businesses now part of the rating scheme.

"Accommodation in Southend will now be seen more broadly as these properties receive international recognition on associated websites.

"This is an important period leading up to easyJet operating from the Southend Airport next year and, of course, the Olympics.

"It is great to see the range and quality of the tourist offer in the Southend area increase in this way.

"Third party assessments like this provide visitors with confidence in the accommodation they are booking."

VisitEngland's Operations and Industry Engagement Manager, Pam Foden, said: "Our Quality in Tourism assessors have been really delighted to see so many new properties signing up for quality assessment.

"They have visited all of these properties and in many cases have stayed overnight as mystery guests."

Included in the new ratings are Hamilton's boutique accommodation, which has achieved a four-star rating and a silver award, complementing other B&Bs already with four stars in the area.

Last year Southend's Pier View guest house won the Essex Tourism Awards' Best Guest Accommodation category, proving Southend's tourist credentials are on a positive curve.

For more information on where to stay and what to do when in Southend go to http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/