What does the term “5 Star Hotel” actually mean?

The answer is; “it depends”. No kidding! Having recently conducted extensive research into the issue of Hotel Classification, aka ‘hotel ratings’, we were surprised to discover how diverse and non-uniform the standards for classifying a 1 Star, 5 Star and all ratings in between actually were around the world. And “diverse” hardly describes the multitude of systems that exist in different countries – and, in some cases, even within the same country.

Historically, it was the “Automobile Association” of the UK that, approximately 100 years ago, first began rating recommended inns and restaurants/pubs along the popular motoring routes its members would take to on their weekend trips. This eventually developed into the “1-to- 5 Star” rating system for hotels and the “rosettes” rating system for restaurants. After World War II, the National Tourist Boards in Britain began to consider some form of hotel registration & classification system, and there was considerable difficulty in doing so; by 1970 only five European countries had national classification systems, and by 1980 this number had increased to 22 European countries and 60 countries worldwide. The standards from one country to another still vary - and in many cases – vary considerably.

The traditional “hotel classification” models were more focused on the amenities offered by the physical structure of the hotels and resorts in question, scrutinizing their “cleanliness” and “comfort” and, to a much lesser degree, the “service level”. This is not to say that service didn’t matter, but rather that it was likely a result of the service-concept being difficult to quantify.

Enter the hotel Brand Chains! Realizing the opportunity the absence of uniform hotel ratings standards presented, large brand-hotels offered a reliable ‘guest experience’ which resulted from the application of their brand’s standard operating procedures (SOP’s) at all properties within the same country and, at a later stage, in different countries around the world. They offered the hotel guest their own standards of cleanliness, comfort and service levels i.e. their brand, or “value proposition”.

Therefore, when a traveler is reviewing their accommodations options, the best definition they can cling to is that ‘5 Star/Deluxe’ refers to the best the country has to offer – certainly in terms of the actual “service scape” – and hope that the “service level” is also up to par, although that won’t necessarily be the case. To increase confidence in their choice, travelers selecting an internationally recognized brand ought to better the odds that the hotel experience will be acceptable, at the very least, and potentially a memorable one.

To help ensure their brand’s value proposition, hotel brand chains employ “hotel mystery shopper” companies like us – Brand Integrity Auditors, who have evaluated 5 Star hotels since 2004, on over 700 occasions. As for “user generated ratings” from hotel booking sites and Trip Advisor, please refer to our blog of Feb 3, 2016 - you might find it interesting… Visit us at -

http://ynlqndr.wix.com/hotel-mystery-shop.

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