What do you expect from Hotel Star Rating?

Among first thing we will ask when choosing the hotel is the Star Rating. Usually from 3 Star to 5 star hotel. Normal people don’t really know what are the hotel Stars about. We just assume the Star rating base on the facts like Hotel Name for Example here everybody knows that Equatorial Hotel is 5 Star and Mahkota Hotel is 3 Star. Other criteria we assume are the price and the hotel looks. The price maybe can relate with the Star rating but somehow not the hotel looks.

For example, I once think that a beautiful hotel with Gothic and classic outer design easily a 5 star, but when find out about it, it is a 3 star hotel. Actually the hotel star ratings are more technical. The guidelines have been set up by the Tourism Ministry to ensure the hotels rate base on its own class. This rating system also can guide customer when choosing a hotel and also can protect the guest rights. So if the guest have paid the amount of a 4 star hotel in its mind but some how don’t get the 4 star facilities in his room for example a dustbin. We can complaint to the hotel management.

Actually there are a complete guideline for hotels to match their star rating criteria at minimum requirements. You can download all the guideline here at Malaysia Association of Hotels website.

I take some example from the ratings requirements.

Corridors :

For 1 to Star Hotels, there are not requirements for the corridors.

But for 3 Star Hotels the corridors must:
-Corridors or other space outside guests room should be covered with noise absorbing material and material used should be of “fire-proof” / have a fire retardant treatment.

For 5 Star Hotels corridors:
All corridors or other space outside guests room should be covered with carpets or other noise absorbing material and material used should be of “fire-proof” / have a fire retardant treatment.

The Bedroom Requirements
Minimum requirements for 2 Star hotels bedroom size are:
Single – 8 sq m in Size and 2.5 m in height.
Double – 10 sq m in size and 2.5 m in height.

But for 4 Star Hotels the minimum requirements for your bedroom are:
Single – 12 sq m in Size and 2.5 m in height.
Double – 14 sq m in Size and 2.5 m in height.

I’m probably not really aware about the bedside when check in at Hotel room because there all look like the same size. You can read it all at MAH website…