QTA unveils new hotel rating system

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has introduced a new hotel grading and classification system to ensure ratings are more fair and transparent.The system is being released after two months of testing in collaboration with the local industry, hoteliers and international experts.“Hotels and hotel apartments will soon be graded together on the same ‘star-rating’ system based on sets of criteria that evaluate their public areas, guest rooms, guest bathrooms, quality of service, staff development, food and beverage and even room amenities,” QTA announced in a statement. For the first time in Qatar, hotels will also be evaluated based on their environmental sustainability management.  QTA will guide hoteliers through the process of implementing required changes needed for their hotels to maintain their star ratings.The government agency will also be “working collaboratively with hotels to ensure they make the improvements at a reasonable pace and with minimum disruption to their business.” “Uniquely, this new system holds developers, owners, management and operators equally accountable for the property’s classification. Changes will take time, but gradually we are paving the way for a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and diverse hospitality sector,” QTA noted.Hotels will be starting the assessment process through a digital ‘self-assessment’ module online. Once completed, a formal inspection is arranged with QTA, which dispatches members of its inspection team to verify the results.The move is to ensure hotels have either made the changes required of them or have put into place an agreed schedule for the rectification of any deficits in facilities and services. Hotels that do not make the needed improvements, or chose not to, will then be re-graded – this could involve them losing a star, QTA added.Among the system’s unique features is a built-in ‘guest experience index’ which analyses ratings and reviews on 130 hotel review websites including TripAdvisor and Booking.com for incorporation into the hotel’s final grading report. The system allows hotel inspectors to record photographic evidence and monthly guest experience feedback, as well as keeping track of all interactions between QTA and the hotels, such as commitments to certain improvements, re-inspection agreements and related deadlines. Hotels that need to make extensive structural changes, which involve working on more than 40% of their infrastructure, will be given until December 31, 2020 to complete the changes before they are regraded. QTA has also reached out to developers of hotels that are in the pipeline for 2016 to ensure that standards are in place before they open.QTA works with partners and stakeholders to ensure that tourism and hotel establishments operate at the highest standards while promoting and perpetuating Qatari culture and heritage.