Hotel stars
Where do come from stars in logos and by names of hotels? Why does a given hotel have such and not other number of them? What are the rules of awarding stars and who decides on them? Do these rules apply everywhere?
In every country there are different conditions of being rated with a particular number of stars. Hotel norms are minutely defined and systematically revised. What's interesting, there are countries where five stars is not a maximum. In Germany and France maximum is four stars and the lowest standard doesn't have stars at all. On Malta a hotel can be rated with two to five stars.
Requirements of star-awarding committees are quite diverse and concern architecture of a hotel and rooms' furnishings. In all stars categories the hotel should be located in a separate building or its sectioned off part. It can also be a complex of buildings.
In 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels guests can (it's not always true for 3-star hotels but for 4- and 5-star ones very often or nearly always) count on guarded garages or, in case of motels, parking places (sometimes additionally payable). This doesn't apply to densely built-up city areas, where the hotel's owner has to provide parking space only for the time of arrival and leaving.
Only 5-star hotels are obligated to have a roof over the driveway (one of at least 4,5 metres). Also only hotels of the highest standard ought to have separate entrances for guests and luggage. Separate entrance for deliveries is required in hotels of 5 to 3 stars. This condition doesn't apply only to 3-star hotels located in densely built-up city areas. In all categories the surface of drives and paths should be paved and additionally, they should be lighted in a way providing hotel guests with the best possible conditions. Utility rooms of all hotels have to be separated from the area accessible to the guests.
In our country the system of awarding stars exists since 1997. Each hotel applies individually for getting a higher rate and every few years a verification of the hotel's conditions takes place.
A five-star hotel in Poland has to meet a number of requirements. A double room offered in such a hotel has to be of minimum 18 square metres. In the hotel there should be separate entrances for guests and luggage. The hotel ought to have a manned car park or garages. In a room there have to be: air conditioning, sanitary fittings, access to Internet, television, telephone, mirror, bedside lamp, table, armchairs or sofa, strongbox, possibility of listening to the radio, mini bar, hair drier, glasses, mineral water. The hotel is obligated to provide: wake-up call service, hot drinks, daily newspapers, possibility of delivering flowers. In short it's all. With decreasing number of stars, the number of these elements also falls, as does the size of a hotel room. A double in a one-star hotel has 10 square metres.
[p]Many initiatives are taken for the purpose of unification of norms of awarding stars. There was a number of discussions about doing it within the European Union. However, in each country tourists have completely different expectations, which stem from e.g. weather conditions, superstitions and cultures or personal habits/convictions. [/p]
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