| For some people, a five-star hotel would mean a | | | | maintenance. |
| luxurious bed, high-end toiletries (preferably the brand | | | | Hotels in Latin America are also rated according to |
| names also patronized by celebrities), and large towels. | | | | government-sanctioned rankings. The ratings range |
| For others, it would mean having at least 200 TV | | | | from zero to five stars although in some countries |
| channels, CD and DVD players, and high-speed | | | | such as Mexico, six stars may given to ultra-luxury |
| internet access. While these factors are taken into | | | | hotels (read: personal butler, private pool, and limousine |
| consideration in hotel ratings, things are not quite as | | | | or even helicopter service). Unfortunately, these |
| comfortably standardized as we would like them to be. | | | | government ratings are often not reviewed periodically |
| A hotel rated as a four-star by one online travel guide | | | | so a hotel may still retain a four-star grade and yet |
| could turn out to be a dud when it comes to 24-hour | | | | deteriorate in quality. |
| service or wireless internet connection. And it could | | | | Asian hotels are just as diversely rated as in other |
| just as well be rated as a mere three-star by another | | | | continents. In China, the government gives the ratings |
| travel site. On the other hand, a one-star hotel could | | | | and includes the English-speaking capabilities of hotel |
| offer charming accommodation with a helpful staff and | | | | staff in its criteria. In Hong Kong, meanwhile, hotels are |
| adequate amenities all for a much cheaper rate. | | | | grouped according to their respective tariff brackets. |
| So why the disparity in hotel ratings? The answer lies | | | | Singapore also follows the star-rating system while in |
| in the varying criteria used by different agencies. There | | | | the Middle East, two hotels defied standard grading |
| simply isn't a standard rating system that is applied | | | | and declared themselves as seven-star |
| universally. Hotel ratings also vary according to each | | | | accommodations. The first one to do so is the Burj Al |
| country and/or city. In European countries, the star | | | | Arab in Dubai which currently holds the record as the |
| ratings are usually given by local governments and | | | | world's tallest hotel and is constructed on its own |
| private agencies and may include such extraneous | | | | private artificial island. The other one is The Centaurus |
| factors (as far as the customer is concerned anyway) | | | | in Islamabad, Pakistan which is still under construction |
| as the amount of tax that a particular hotel pays. In | | | | and is scheduled to be completed in 2010. Hotels in |
| France, the government-sanctioned rating system only | | | | Asia generally have a higher staff-to-guest ratio |
| gives a maximum of four stars, that's for a luxury | | | | compared with their counterparts in Europe and North |
| hotel, and a minimum of one star for a modest inn. | | | | America due to lower labor costs. |
| Hotels are judged according to room size, amenities, | | | | In the United States, one of the most popular grading |
| plumbing, renovations, elevators, dining options, etc. | | | | body is the American Automobile Association which |
| Germany and other Scandinavian countries adhere to | | | | employs diamonds to express its ratings instead of |
| the one- to five-star scale and the ratings are only | | | | stars. Its hotel ratings are based on management style, |
| valid for a period of three years, after which hotels | | | | exterior and interior appearance, furnishing and fixtures, |
| must undergo another round of inspection. | | | | security, service and maintenance, ambiance, and |
| In the United Kingdom, steps were taken to produce a | | | | supplies. Hotel booking websites and online travel |
| more uniform hotel rating system and a complete | | | | guides also have their own ratings. The more popular |
| standardization is aimed for by 2008. All grading | | | | ones are Sidestep.com, Expedia, Hotwire.com, |
| agencies are expected to adhere to the criteria called | | | | Hotels.com, Travelocity, Priceline, Travelweb, and |
| the National Quality Assurance Standards, which | | | | Orbitz. |
| follows the five-star system and further categorizes | | | | Though considerably confusing, hotel ratings still |
| hotels into full service formal accommodations, country | | | | function as a guide for travelers and vacationers. They |
| houses, small hotels, town houses, and metro hotels. | | | | provide an overview of a hotel's amenities as well as |
| Some of the basis for scoring the accommodations | | | | its price range. When combined with other helpful |
| are cleanliness and housekeeping, service, common | | | | information and a little common sense, these grading |
| rooms, guest rooms, bathrooms, food quality, safety | | | | systems enable customers to make intelligent hotel |
| and security, interior and exterior design, and | | | | booking decisions. |