What Do Hotel Star Ratings Mean?

We have all heard about hotels being rated with stars, but what do they really mean? Of course, 1 star suggests that only bare basics are provided and 5 stars represents that you will be pampered with luxury. So what is the difference between 1,2,3,4 and 5 stars? There is even a self proclaimed 7 stars-hotel in Dubai called the Burj Al Arab and 6 stars-hotel in Singapore called the Fullerton.

To start of, there is no common international standard for measuring hotel service levels and there are differences among countries. In America, the hotel ratings are managed by one of several bodies such as Mobil Travel Guides whereas in the United Kingdom, there is the English Tourist Board. There is a basic set of standards which must be maintained regardless of rating e.g. fire and electrical safety, 24 hour security, kitchens that must comply with health regulation standards etc. In addition to that, the people who give a hotel its rating will not warn the hotel management ahead of their inspection. They will just slip into the hotel just like any other ordinary traveler albeit on a mission. So let us look at some of the criteria that decide the number of stars a hotel gets.

One of the criteria is qualitative and aesthetic requirements which basically look at the function, color, aesthetics and ambiance of the furniture, space, light, decoration and other equipment in the hotel. Needless to say that the higher the rating, the better the quality and ¡®taste¡¯. In terms of room, the room size increases with the number of stars. However, the least you can expect from a room regardless of rating is a clean bed, linen, curtains, a waste bin, a cupboard and etc.