DOT has new hotel ratings system

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has a new set of  accreditation standards for hotels, resorts, and apartment hotels called the Star Ratings system.

Maria Rica Bueno, director of the DOT Office of Tourism Standards and Regulation, said, during last Thursday’s meeting with stakeholders, that they were changing the old set of standards, which was published in 1992, because they wanted to be on a par with the neighboring southeast asian countries in the tourism industry.

The new set of standards was started in 2010 with the signing of the memorandum of agreement. In 2011, a consultation, drafting, and formulation of the standard rules was set. DOT published it in June 2012 .

The new set of accreditation is in accordance with Tourism Act of 2009 or Republic Act 9593.

PILOT HOTELS

Bueno, however, said that the system would not be imposed until after the pilot implementation would be completed within the year..

She said this would involve 737 pilot hotels in Cebu City and in major cities in the country..

These pilot hotels have until July 30 to  register for the new accreditation.

Bueno said the new standard was benchmarked with the international standards.

She said they hired the former executive director of Qualmark, New Zealand, to help them  draft the standards.

Compared to the old standards which only classifies hotels by de luxe, first class, standard and economy, the new standard classifies hotels by stars.

In Bueno’s presentation, for the star rating system a total of 251 – 400 points for first star hotels,  401 – 550 stars for two star, 551 – 700 points for three star, 701 – 850 points for four star and 851 – 1000 points for 5 star.

Hotels get star points depending on the  criteria indicators  in terms of the business area of hotel, resort and apartment hotel.

One requirement includes the hot and cold showers in toilets, which could start heating up to 38 degrees Celsius in 20 seconds.

Hotels with environment-friendly practices also have a bigger chance of earning more star points.

However, Bueno said improving facilities was only a part of the whole picture.

“To compete globally, we have to make sure that our tourism services and facilities would have that  service quality and service excellence providing whether they are domestic or foreign guests,” she said. /Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon