HOTEL RATINGS TO UNDERGO REVAMP
Three-tier star system to set luxury properties apart Dubai : The star-rating system for classifying hotels is to be revised as some ultra-luxurious properties require more than the traditional five stars. The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Dubai's tourism licensing body, yesterday said it would rate hotels and serviced apartments under a new classification system from this year-end. The new system will include a three-tier, five-star rating to differentiate the ultra-luxury properties. "Hospitality properties will continue to be rated on a scale of one to five stars, but new categories have been added to highlight their uniqueness," DTCM said. "Presently, all hotels are classified simply on the one to five star rating, but the new system will rate in many categories including business, beach, desert and heritage." The number of properties is projected to go up seven per cent this year while the number of rooms and furnished flats will see a 30 per cent increase. Under the new ratings, five-star hotels will have three categories — platinum, gold and silver. The selection criteria for other hotel categories, ranging from four to one star, have also been overhauled. The hotel apartments will now be rated in three categories instead of two — basic, standard and deluxe. DTCM said it has taken into consideration the industry trends and hospitality property classifications in several countries including Australia, Spain, South Africa and the US. Hotels and resorts such as the Burj Al Arab, Al Maha Resort, Bab Al Shams in Dubai and Emirates Palace, Qasr Al Sarab in Abu Dhabi — often billed as seven-star properties — are in a class of their own and deserve better ratings than five-star, industry officials feel. "It is a very sensible move towards the right direction," said Shamira Mitha, managing director of Verve — a hospitality consultancy. "However, I am curious to know what criteria they are going to use and how. Also, importantly, how will this be replicated internationally?" The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) is also planning to revise its classification system. "We are currently working on upgrading the system to include a new category which will more accurately represent properties deemed as above five-star," ADTA Chairman Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan on Monday told a hotel conference in Dubai. However, analysts feel it's the human touch that matters most to guests. "Although we all follow the international rating mechanisms, it's the customer who should be giving the star rating as they are the best judge," Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) told Gulf News. Majid Al Marri, Director of Classification at DTCM's Licensing and Classification Division, said the new hotel classification system had been in the works for three years. Platinum, Gold, Silver Dubai has 52 five-star hotels with 16,693 rooms, while 59 four-star hotels offer 10,817 rooms. There are 6,975 rooms in 55 three-star hotels, 3807 rooms in 44 two-star hotels and 4719 rooms in 126 one-star hotels. The new classification system has taken into consideration several factors to provide a system that matches international standards. Dubai has 540 hotels at present — 352 hotels and 188 hotel apartments — with 61,182 rooms and furnished flats. —
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