the joint wto & ih&ra; study on hotel classification - Hotel Designs

IND.D.004.16 April 2004O<strong>the</strong>r periodicity (specify)8. Plans to introduce new classification or revise current classification (specify)Part C:Official and versus de facto private classification(to be completed if <strong>the</strong> respondent is aware of <strong>the</strong> differences ordiscrepancies that exist between official classification and o<strong>the</strong>r privateclassification systems used in pa<strong>ra</strong>llel (see also <strong>the</strong> following Note andfootnote 20 below)NOTEIn some countries, private classification of accommodation establishments may beannounced in printed guides, t<strong>ra</strong>vel magazines or on <strong>the</strong> internet by consume<strong>ra</strong>ssociations, t<strong>ra</strong>vel clubs, t<strong>ra</strong>vel agencies, establishments’ owners and o<strong>the</strong>r publishersof such information, in conformity with official government or industry (non-governmental)classification systems or irrespective of <strong>the</strong> existence or non-existence of such systems,i.e., for whatever reason and according to individual criteria and research of <strong>the</strong>publishers of such information and upon <strong>the</strong>ir own responsibility 51 .Please elabo<strong>ra</strong>te whe<strong>the</strong>r this situation exists in your country.51 . For example, a hotel guide published in a given country or a web page covering a country or a localdestination may exhibit <strong>the</strong> g<strong>ra</strong>phical symbols of stars affixed to <strong>the</strong> establishment’s name, while <strong>the</strong>country’s government or industry have not adopted official classification systems with star denotation ormay be using a different g<strong>ra</strong>phical symbol (keys, crowns, etc.) which is less known internationally than <strong>the</strong>star system.- 100 -