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Thailand Standard Hotels Directory 2011
Thai Hotel Standard Foundation
World tourists are familiar with star rating systems for hotels, restaurants and
frequented tourist sites. As tourism is a major sector of the Thai economy and as the
hotel business is one of the most important sectors of the tourism industry, setting a
consistent standard for hotels and resorts has long been a concern of the Thai tourism
industry. The first step in this direction was taken in March 2004, when 84 hotels
voluntarily participated in the country’s first ever hotel certification program.
The Thailand Hotel Standard is a nonprofit
foundation and a joint endeavor of private and
public sectors. The organization’s full, official name is:
The Foundation of Standard and Human Resource
Development in Service and Tourism Industry. The
Hotel Standard Certifying Committee is comprised
of ten persons: the Director-General of the Office
of Tourism Development, the Governor of Tourism
Authority of Thailand, a representative (president
or vice president) of ATTA (Association of Thai
Travel Agents), a representative of the associations
of domestic tourism, one public university member
and one private university member from Faculty of
Tourism (hotel curriculum), the President of THA
(Tourism Authority of Thailand), the Secretary
General of THA, the Chairman of Membership of
THA, and the Vice President of THA.
Recognizing that Thailand’s competitive potential
in international tourism could be enhanced by
establishing a “precise, accurate and reliable”
hotel standard, it was decided that adopting
an internationally recognized practice of hotel
standards and certification was an important
step. European models provided the conceptual
framework for the current Thai Hotel Standard and
are based on the “star rating” concept that already is
familiar to international travelers.
The guidelines for creating the Thai Hotel Standard
included several key policies: a clear and accurate
classification standard, transparent and verifiable
criteria, re-evaluation must result in a consistent
standard, the standard is protection for both the
hotel and its customers, and cer tification of standard
is open to all hotels with or without membership
in THA.
As with any industry, competition makes for
improvement. By establishing a rating system,
hotels wishing to be given an additional star in
their rating must compete and raise standards
to achieve this goal. The result is better services
for tourists and a clear understanding of the
services and characteristics of competitor hotels.
This healthy competition encourages not only a
higher quality of service, but also a higher quality of
management.
In order to receive a star rating of from one to five
stars, with five being the highest standard, hotels
are given points for three aspects – standard of
construction and facilities, standard of maintenance
and standard of ser vices. Any hotel must achieve
above the minimum
Thailand Hotel Standard Foundation History | Thailand Hotel Standard Foundation Overview | Thailand Hotel Standard Foundation Objectives and Goals | Hotel Ratings’ Benefit to the Industry | Hotel Ratings’ Benefit to Consumers
Levels & Symbols Used at Thailand Hotel Standard Foundation | Major Factors to Determine Hotel Rating | Tourism in Thailand | When to Visit Thailand
number of points in all three categories for any
specific star rating. As more hotel owners and
operators become aware of the benefits of a star
rating by the Thailand Hotel Standard, participation
will increase, thus the overall standards will improve
what is already an excellent service industry.
To ensure that both local and international travelers
are aware of the Thailand Hotel Standard program, a
guide to the participating hotels has been produced
and is being distributed worldwide. A hotel’s
certification is displayed either at the entrance in the
lobby in the form of a certificate or plaque. Certified
hotels are being promoted by the TAT and the travel
industry.
Confidence in Thailand as a world-class tourist
destination and endeavoring to make Thailand the
“Tourism Capital of Asia” are worthy goals. To that
end the Thai Hotel Standard is pursuing the goal of
complete certification throughout the industry by
the end of 2012. Amazing Thailand has just become
more amazing.