What are Hotel Classifications all about?
Hotels may be classified in many different ways for different purposes in different countries. The reasons for classifying hotels are:
1. To analyse the market sector
2. To describe the type of hotel for advertising and promotional purposes:
A hotel may fit into more than one category. This may be a deliberate policy in order to appeal to a wider market, to encourage greater occupancy or a more even pattern of occupancy.
The diversity and changing patterns of hotel use often make precise classification difficult, and new forms of accommodation are being introduced to cater for specific needs, for example, holiday villas, condominiums, time-share.
Examples of Star Ratings
For Motels, Hotels & Resorts:
* Offer basic standard accommodation which is simply furnished. Hotels and resorts have private facilities, but motels may have shared bathrooms.
** Well maintained with an average standard of furnishings and fittings.
*** Well appointed; comfortable standard of accommodation, furnishings, lighting, cooling and heating.
**** Very high standard with high quality furnishings and fittings. High standards in presentation and guest services; restaurant on site, air conditioned rooms, comfortable lounge, hair drier, etc.
***** International style and superior standard, extensive range of first-class services including 24-hour room service, and additional shopping and recreation facilities.
For Serviced Apartments
* Basic accommodation with moderate comfort.
** Average accommodation with higher degree of comfort.
*** Good accommodation with better furnishings.
**** Very good accommodation, with very high standard of comfort and at least one separate bedroom.
***** Very good with very high standard of comfort & furnishings, must have at least one separate bedroom.
***** Excellent, luxuriously appointed, all sleeping areas and bedrooms are separate to the lounge.
Bed & Breakfast/Guest House
* Clean, basic with simple furnishings.
** Moderate with comfortable furnishings and facilities.
*** Well appointed and comfortable.
**** Excellent quality of accommodation, furnishings and facilities.
***** International quality with an extensive range of first class guest facilities and services.
Kinds of Hotels
There are various types of hotels, each aiming primarily at a different market:
City Hotels
These hotels are in central city locations and are accessible by local transport such as rail, bus or taxi. Seeing most of the local attractions around the city is not difficult. Visitors may get about on foot, or public transport, or using short inexpensive taxi trips.
Convention Hotels
Another type of hotel is the “convention hotel”. This type of hotel is designed to cater to conferences or other major meetings.
Airport Hotels
Located close to airports; often focusing on the needs of the business traveller who requires close proximity to the airport.
Resort Hotels
These are hotels that solely cater for tourists as a one-stop holiday destination. Resort hotels are located in popular tourist destinations and provide a number of facilities and attractions in the one complex. This style of hotel was popularised by Club Med.
Apartment Hotels
These contain self-catering facilities where the guest is able to do their own basic cooking.
Boutique Hotels
These are often small individual hotels with an emphasis on luxury. Often the experience is a memorable one with hotels having a theme, superior service and fewer rooms than a large chain hotel.
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