A unifrom European system for rating hotels

BRUSSELS - Does a three star hotel in Belgium offer the same standards as a three-star hotel in Greece or Estonia? The European Center of Consumers (ECC-Net) says no and urges a uniform European system for hotel star ratings. This demand was followed after a study was made on the quality of three star hotels in 29 European countries (the 27 EU member states, plus Iceland and Norway). The ECC-Net compared the expectations people had for a three star hotel on the basis of 41 criteria; 22 related to the equipment and service of the hotel, and 19 on the rooms and bathrooms.

The Center noted that two systems co-existed: in 10 of the countries, a hotel had to fit a minimum of requirements to be able to be placed in the three star category, while the other was based on a system of points. In Belgium, both systems work simultaneously.

In a statement, the ECC-Net noted that "the revision on the directive through travel packages is the perfect time to find a system for the authorities in the sector and the consumers". According to the Center, one uniform European system needs to be introduced.  "In a Europe where citizens can travel to Finland or Spain without having to stop at borders, and where everything can be paid with the same currency, the lack of coherence in hotel star ratings is disappointing for the tourism industry".   

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