About Hotel Classification Systems

The matter of the classification of tourism accommodations is particularly difficult for at least two reasons:-First of all, due to the large diversity of types of tourism accommodations, a diversity that is constantly increasing;-Also, due to the large diversity of classification systems that are themselves embedded in highly different cultural and economic contexts. I will therefore try to successively address four aspects of this matter: 1. The objectives and the general framework of classification 2. Systems for classification management 3. Classification criteria 4. Monitoring/enforcement The first question that arises, of course, is: Why have a classification system? Or in other words, what are its objectives? I see at least five: 1. To inform consumers. This point is very important because, by definition, a hotel is far from the home of the tourist, and consumers cannot just go to the corner supermarket or the neighbourhood retailer to see and possibly try out their future purchase. Classification thus constitutes an indicator, a piece of information that should give confidence to the consumer before, during and after his stay.