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

IND.D.004.16 April 2004I. INTRODUCTIONBackgroundHistorically, hotel classification systems were developed to ensure safe and reliablelodging and food for t<strong>ra</strong>vellers at a time when very few such trustworthy establishmentsexisted. With <strong>the</strong> unprecedented growth of international tourism in <strong>the</strong> past fifty years,during which hospitality has reach <strong>the</strong> status of a mature industry, <strong>the</strong> focus has movedfrom consumer protection (gene<strong>ra</strong>lly gua<strong>ra</strong>nteed by national regulations and legislation)to consumer information. Today, standardization and competitive marketing of hotelservices to foreign customers and tourist professionals have emerged as driving forcesfor instituting a local or national hotel classification system.With so many people now t<strong>ra</strong>velling, both within <strong>the</strong>ir own country and often far beyond,<strong>the</strong> idea has arisen of devising one single scheme which could be applied to hotelaccommodation throughout <strong>the</strong> world for <strong>the</strong> benefit of both consumers (tourists) andt<strong>ra</strong>vel professionals (tour ope<strong>ra</strong>tors and t<strong>ra</strong>vel agents, in particular). Whe<strong>the</strong>r this is infact desi<strong>ra</strong>ble – and indeed feasible – remains a subject of conside<strong>ra</strong>ble discussion.As a result, <strong>the</strong> issue of hotel classification is one that has appeared on <strong>the</strong> agenda of<strong>the</strong> World Tourism Organisation for a conside<strong>ra</strong>ble number of years.Most recently, a compa<strong>ra</strong>tive <strong>study</strong> of hotel classification systems (<strong>the</strong> formaldetermination of hotel <strong>ra</strong>tings or categories) was included in <strong>the</strong> WTO Gene<strong>ra</strong>lProg<strong>ra</strong>mme of Work for <strong>the</strong> 2000-2001 biennium, as a specific project (Activity 12:National Tourism Legislations) under Part B (Documentation) of <strong>the</strong> Section 7.The WTO Quality Support Committee at its 4 th meeting (Madrid, 12-13 April 2000)recognized that ”in <strong>the</strong> present changing regulatory f<strong>ra</strong>mework for tourism, <strong>the</strong>decent<strong>ra</strong>lization of government competence for <strong>the</strong> sector and <strong>the</strong> appea<strong>ra</strong>nce of diversevoluntary quality standards applied to accommodation establishments, hotelclassification systems:(a)(b)(c)(d)are challenged by part of industry as unduly interfering with <strong>the</strong> marketplaceand free competition, especially where such systems are established andcontrolled by government;continue to play <strong>the</strong> role of consumer guidance as t<strong>ra</strong>ditional categoryindicators;however, confuse customers because of <strong>the</strong> lack of internationalharmonization and accountability;are requested by a number of developing countries as a regulatorymeasure, especially for small business, and in order to achievecompatibility with tourist-sending countries.”In conside<strong>ra</strong>tion of <strong>the</strong> above, <strong>the</strong> Committee requested <strong>the</strong> Secretariat to carry out acompa<strong>ra</strong>tive <strong>study</strong> of existing hotel classification schemes world-wide with a view to:- 4 -