STAR

CLASSIFICATION

Contents

1.Hotel ratings

2.Standards of hotel classification

3.World Hotel Rating

4.Hotel Classifications in Britain

5.Zero star hotels

6.Six star hotels

7.Seven star hotels

8.Controversy

9.References

1. Hotel Ratings
 The star classification system is a common one for rating hotels. Higher star ratings indicate more
luxury. The AAA and their affiliated bodies use diamonds instead of stars to express hotel and
restaurant ratings levels. Hotels are independently assessed in traditional systems and rest heavily on
the facilities provided. Some consider this disadvantageous to smaller hotels whose quality of
accommodation could fall into one class but the lack of an item such as an elevator would prevent it
from reaching a higher categorization.

2. Standards Of Hotel Classification

Food services, entertainment, view, room variations such as size and additional amenities, spas and
fitness centers and location may be considered in establishing a standard. The more common
classification systems include 'star' rating, letter grading, from 'A' to 'F', diamond or simply a
'satisfactory' or 'unsatisfactory' footnote to accommodation such as hostels and motels. Systems using
terms such as Deluxe/ Luxury, First Class/ Superior, Tourist Class/ Standard, and Budget Class/
Economy are more widely accepted as hotel types, rather than hotel standards. Some countries have
rating by a single public standard - Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain and Hungary have laws defining the hotel rating. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland the
rating is defined by the respective hotel industry association using a 5-star system - the German
classifications are Tourist (*), Standard (**), Comfort (***), First Class (****) and Luxus (*****)
with the mark Superior to flag extras beyond the minimum defined in the standard. In France the
rating is defined by the public tourist board of the department using a four star system (plus "L" for
Luxus) which has changed to a 5-star system from 2009 on. In South Africa and Namibia the
Tourism Grading Council has strict rules for a hotel types granting up to 5 stars.

3. World Hotel Rating

There is so far no international classification which has been adopted. There have been attempts at
unifying the classification system so that it becomes an internationally recognized and reliable
standard, but they all have failed. Many consider that, as it has been the case in other areas (e.g.
international accounting standards), hotel classification standards should result from a private and
independent initiative. This may be the case of the World Hotel Rating (WHR) project, which
notably aims to set international classification standards and rating criteria along the lines of a world
star-rating system. It will also establish an information platform on the hotel industry which will be
multilingual and multicultural. WHR intends to play a key role in the development of quality hotel
services, as well as equitable and sustainable tourism, and the protection of the world's cultural and
natural heritage. In addition, WHR will develop labels to promote hotels distinguished by specific
features, such as a family and child-friendly disposition. A test period is scheduled for 2010.

4. Hotel Classifications in Britain

In Britain hotels are rated from one star - five stars, like in many countries around the world. Unlike
in America, diamonds are not used. The AA (Automobile Association) is one of the most trusted sites
that rates hotels in the UK. Their criteria for classifying hotels are available freely on their website. In
addition to the usual black stars (ranging from one, the lowest to five, the highest) the AA awards
gold stars to hotels which are 'highly commended' and red stars to the best hotels they review which
are deemed 'inspectors choice'. An example would be Cliveden Country House Hotel in Taplow
which is rated as a 5 red star hotel.

5. Zero Star Hotels

There is only one record of a zero star rating to date. It is the Null Stern Hotel in Sevelen,
Switzerland. It is a converted nuclear bunker. The Null Stern Hotel was the artistic brain child of
Frank and Patrik Riklin, which was then turned into a business.
6. Six Star Hotels

Some members of the hospitality industry have claimed a self-given six star rating for their operation.
Two examples are the Crown Macau, on Taipa Island in the Chinese territory of Macau and the St.
Regis Shanghai Hotel in China. Other examples include the Al Husn Hotel at Shangrila's Shangri-La
Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Hotel in Oman. The Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast in Australia is
described by Australian Traveller magazine as meriting "six star" rating though level of rating is not
used in Australia. The under development hotel Mansions of the World in Puerto Madero, Buenos
Aires has also been announced as a six star hotel project. Seoul Park Hyatt in South Korea is also a
six star hotel. The hotel Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island also claims that title.

7. Seven Star Hotels

There are only three hotels in the world that are seven star hotels; the Town House Galleria in Milan
was the first, followed by theBurj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Emirates Palace in
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. These ratings are merely to create a marketing hype as the highest
rating in Dubai, for instance, is five stars. There are a few other seven star hotels under construction.
These include the Laucala Island in Fiji, Morgan Plaza to be finished in Beijing, China, the Flower of
the East under construction as well as the Solar Powered Hotel on Kish island, Iran. The Centaurus
Complex under construction in Islamabad, Pakistan, the Grand Chola in Chennai (India), a complex
planned for Metro Manila and The Royalties Castle for Davao City in the Philippines.

8. Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org
http://svc.travelocity.com