New Star Rating System to Enhance Hotel Standards The Ministry of Tourism has announced the implementation of a new star rating system for hotels across the country. This move aims to enhance transparency, improve quality standards, and provide travelers with a more informed decision-making process. Key Features of the New System: * Objective and Transparent: The rating system will be based on a comprehensive set of objective criteria, eliminating subjective judgments and ensuring fairness. * Multi-Tiered Categories: Hotels will be classified into different categories based on their level of facilities, services, and amenities. The highest rating will be “Five Stars”, with lower ratings for progressively less luxurious options. * Regular Assessments: Ratings will be subject to regular assessments by qualified inspectors to ensure ongoing compliance with standards. * Starred Rating Display: Hotels will be required to display their star rating prominently on their websites, brochures, and other marketing materials. Benefits of the New System: * Enhanced Traveler Experience: The star rating system will provide travelers with a clear understanding of the quality and amenities they can expect at a particular hotel. This will facilitate better travel planning and enhance guest satisfaction. * Improved Hotel Standards: The system encourages hotels to invest in upgrading their facilities and services to achieve and maintain higher ratings. This will result in a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for all guests. * Increased Transparency: The star rating system provides a transparent and impartial way of evaluating hotels, enabling travelers to make informed choices based on objective criteria. * Boost for Tourism: The new system is expected to boost tourism by attracting discerning travelers who are willing to pay for higher-quality accommodation. It will also help hotels compete more effectively in the global hospitality market. The Ministry has emphasized that the implementation of the new star rating system is part of its broader strategy to promote sustainable tourism and elevate the country’s hospitality industry to international standards. Travelers can anticipate the rollout of the system in the near future, giving them greater confidence and convenience when booking their hotel accommodations.Announcement of Hotel Reclassification and Star Rating UpdatesAnnouncement of Hotel Reclassification and Star Rating Updates The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced significant changes to hotel star ratings in Ethiopia. According to Tourism Minister Nasise Chali, the current star ratings will be phased out in September 2024. Reclassification Process This move complies with Regulation No. 173/2010, which mandates hotels to undergo reclassification every three years. The MoT is actively preparing for this process, which will encompass hotels in Addis Ababa and all regions. Consultations are ongoing with hotel owners and industry representatives to establish transparent reclassification guidelines. Consequences of Non-Compliance Hotels that fail to meet the reclassification criteria will have their star ratings revoked. This action aims to elevate hotel service standards and enhance Ethiopia’s competitiveness as a tourist destination. Past Performance In March 2023, the MoT released findings from hotel assessments in major tourist hubs. Out of 64 hotels evaluated, only 31 met the basic classification requirements, and none qualified for 5-star status. Sources * Fana Broadcasting Corporate (Fana BC) * 2Merkato ArchivesThe Ministry of Tourism recently announced that a new star rating system for hotels will be implemented in order to improve the quality of tourism services and provide travelers with more accurate information about the level of service they can expect. The new system will be based on a number of criteria, including the quality of the hotel’s facilities, the level of service provided by the staff, and the hotel’s overall cleanliness. Hotels will be awarded a star rating from one to five, with five stars being the highest rating. The Ministry believes that the new star rating system will help travelers make more informed decisions about which hotels to stay in. It will also help to improve the standards of service in the tourism industry by encouraging hotels to compete for higher ratings. The new star rating system is expected to be implemented by the end of the year.