Do you also choose a hotel by the number of stars?

Slide 1: How did the first hotel stars “appear”?

The star rating system appeared as early as 1958, thanks to the American oil and gas corporation Mobil, which introduced the evaluation of establishments and accommodation facilities in the country on a rating scale from 1 to 5 stars. They wanted to help travelers decide quickly and rationally where to stay or eat. Later, this idea was picked up by hotels and tourist organizations in various countries.

Slide 2: Why does a 5-star hotel in Egypt differ from a hotel with the same star rating in Turkey?

Today, there is still no unified system for evaluating the quality of hotels worldwide. Each country or even a separate region may have its own, and it is not always stars, by the way. For example, in America – diamonds, in Britain – crowns, in Sweden – keys, in some countries – letters from “A” to “F”, or terms (economy, deluxe, luxury).

Slide 3: What is the HotelStars Union?

In the 2000s, the World Hotel Rating team proposed a global rating project, but it never came to fruition. However, in 2009, a joint system was successfully established in Europe covering 21 countries that became members of the HotelStars Union. They all must adhere to approved criteria and the 21 principles of HOTREC. Every 5 years, the HotelStars Union reviews all parameters to ensure they remain relevant and meet the market’s needs.

Slide 4: Who assigns the hotel category?

Here, too, everything is different. Generally, there are 5 rating systems worldwide:

1. Traditional: Consists of mandatory objective criteria, sometimes combined with additional voluntary criteria, compliance with which is verified by auditors or inspectors (member countries of the HotelStars Union, India).
2. ISO certification: Consists only of mandatory criteria, and checks are carried out by accredited third-party inspections (France).
3. Quality assurance: Consists of two elements: objective criteria and an assessment of quality assurance based on some of these criteria. Stars are awarded not for the number of amenities but rather for the quality of services provided, which is verified by industry advisors (Scotland, Iceland, Australia).
4. Based on customer reviews: Guest ratings are added to the mandatory criteria (Abu Dhabi, Norway).
5. Trust system: Consists only of a set of criteria, and hotels themselves assess how well they meet them without any audit or control.

Slide 5: What are the most important criteria?

In 2014, the World Tourism Organization conducted a comparative analysis of 4- and 5-star hotels in European countries and worldwide. It turned out that the main attention is paid to four groups of factors everywhere:

• Rooms (almost 29%)
• Bathroom (15,7%)
• Services (13,4%)
• Breakfast (11,7%)*

The difference is that for European countries, breakfast criteria are more important than bathroom criteria.

Slide 6: Europe VS the world: What are the differences?

Compared to worldwide hotels, the following criteria are more important for European ones: minibar, stationery, hairdryer, mirror, toothbrush holder, lobby safe, languages spoken by staff, daily press and ticket booking service, bathrobes, and slippers.

Less significant: Internet, clothes hangers, mattress requirements, room lighting, curtain presence, cable TV, minimum bathroom size, concierge services, daily cleaning and towel replacement, business center availability, air conditioning, and sports facilities.

Slide 7: How do hotels in the UAE get stars?

Each emirate has its own system. For example, in Dubai, hotels are evaluated based on three main criteria:

• Licensed (illuminated entrance area, minimum prayer zone size, luggage storage). They must be fully complied with, otherwise, the hotel may be closed.
• Operational (receptionist response to a call no later than after 5 rings, Wi-Fi requirements in public areas). Deviations are allowed by no more than 10%, and the hotel must correct them within a certain period.
• Improvement (compliance with architectural design, car rental service). They must be complied with by at least 50%.

Slide 8: How do hotels get stars in Greece?

Although the country became a member of the HotelStars Union in 2013, this system is implemented in resorts voluntarily, while the state system remains mandatory. According to it, to get a certain number of stars, a hotel needs to accumulate corresponding points, which are awarded for room arrangements and hotel infrastructure. From 1,500 points for 1 star to 5,500 points for 5 stars. There is also a classification for apartments in Greece – a system of three keys. Just like with hotels, villas, and apartments must accumulate a certain number of points based on technical and operational indicators.

Slide 9: How do hotels get stars in Bulgaria?

The rating of hotels is determined according to the Tourism Act of the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria. All accommodation facilities are divided into 2 categories:

А – hotels, villa complexes, and apartments can have from 1 to 5 stars, but villas – from 3* to 5*. The categorization of the Hotel Stars Union is taken as the basis.

В – small family hotels, guesthouses, campgrounds, boarding houses – from 1* to 3*.
In addition, Bulgarian chalets have a separate classification – from 1 to 3 “Edelweiss”. Certification is carried out by the mayor of the municipality or an authorized official.

Slide 10: How are hotels classified in exotic destinations?

Sri Lanka. Mandatory certification here was introduced only in 2016. Then the local Hotel and Tourism Association (THASL) developed a system of mandatory and voluntary criteria that hotels must adhere to in order to get a certain star rating.
Zanzibar. Last summer, the initiative to create a hotel classification system at the state level was launched here for the first time. Evaluation criteria are still under development, but it is expected that the hotel’s star rating will determine the amount of tourist tax paid by guests.

Slide 11: How do hotels get stars in other our destinations?

Turkey. Stars are assigned to hotels here by the local Ministry of Tourism.
Egypt. The star rating of Egyptian hotels is the responsibility of the local hotel association and the country’s Ministry of Tourism.
Spain. Here, like in the UAE, each of the 17 regions has its own standards.