CLASSIFICATION OF HOTELS

CLASSIFICATION OF HOTELS

Classification According to Facilities and Amenities

1. Economy / Limited Service Hotels - These types of hotels

provide efficient, clean, private rooms with attached bath. The

furnishings and decor are moderate. Initially these hotels did

not have telephones or television in the rooms; but now most

of them have it. Food and beverage service may not be

available, and bell attendants, door attendants and concierge

facilities are absent. To maintain these economy hotels, they

are located on inexpensive real estate areas and constructed

at relatively low cost. Operating costs are kept low by

eliminating food and beverage service and employing

minimum staff to service the guests.

2. Mid-Market Hotels - The modem mid-market hotel is a

descendant of the first commercial hotel, offering comfortable

accommodation with private baths, on-premises food and

beverage service and uniformed bell staff. These hotels, also

called standard or tourist class hotels, offer above average

luxury and comfort, professionally designed decor and may

also have scenic views or advantageous locations.

3. All-suite Hotels - The all-suite hotel was invented to

compete with first-class hotels by offering above-average

facilities at mid-market rates. A typical all suite hotel offers

separate sleeping and living areas, along with other benefits

like a kitchenette and a stocked bar. Some hotels offer food

and beverage service and employ bell staff. A variation of the

all-suite hotel, the condominium hotel is a fully equipped

apartment complex that rents accommodations for a short

period. A typical condominium hotel is located in a resort area

and marketed as an alternative to full-service hotels.

4. First-Class or Executive Hotels - A typical first-class hotel

is luxurious or semi-luxurious, with exceptional comfort and

decor, highly trained staff and above average food and

beverages. These hotels are also referred to as executive or

superior hotels, often having luxury suites, two or more dining

rooms and a cocktail lounge. Many accommodations have

excellent views, refrigerators and fully stocked bars.

5. Luxury or Deluxe Hotels - These hotels represent the

highest standard of excellence in the level of luxury and

comfort, cleanliness and efficiency, staff specialisation,

competence and courtesy, diversity and quality of food and

beverage service. A typical deluxe hotel has at least 10% of

its space reserved for luxury suites, two or more dining

rooms, usually a gourmet-style dining room, and a familystyle

restaurant. Most of these hotels have excellent views,

location and ambience. Some hotels offering a very high level

of luxury are referred as grand-deluxe.

Classification According to Star Ranking

Category of Hotel Area Standards

Single Room 180 sq.ft

Double Room 200 sq.ft

5-Star / 5-Star Deluxe

Hotels (Fully Air

conditioned)

Bathrooms 45 sq.ft

Single Room 120 sq.ft

Double Room 140 sq.ft

4-Star & 3-Star Hotels

(Air-conditioned/ Non-

A/c)

Bathrooms 36 sq.ft

(Extra area may be provided if twin beds are to be provided)

Single Room 100 sq.ft

Double Room 120 sq.ft

2-Star & 1-Star Hotels

(Air-conditioned / Non-

A/c)

Bathrooms 30 sq.ft or subject

to local bylaws

Note: All rooms should have proper ventilation and ceiling fans

Figure 11.1 Categories of Hotels

Five Star Category

General Features - The facade, architectural features and general

construction of the hotel building should have the distinctive qualities

of a luxury hotel of this category .The locality, including the

immediate approach and environs should be suitable for a luxury

hotel of this category and there should be adequate parking space

for cars. The hotel should have at least 25 lettable bedrooms, all with

attached bathrooms with long bath or the most modern shower

chambers. All public rooms and private rooms should be fully airconditioned

and should be well equipped with superior quality

carpets, curtains, furniture, fittings etc., in good taste. It would be

advisable to employ the services of professionally qualified and

experienced interior designers of repute for this purpose. There

should be an adequate number of efficient lifts in the building of

more than two stories (including the ground floor) with 24 hours

service. There should be a well-designed and properly equipped

swimming pool. There should be a well-designated lobby and ladies'

and gentlemen's cloakroom equipped with fittings and furniture of the

highest standard.

Facilities - There should be a reception, cash and information

counter attended by highly qualified, trained and experienced

personnel and conference facilities in the form of one each or more

of the conference rooms, banquet halls and private dining rooms.

There should be bookstall, beauty parlor, barbershop, recognised

travel agency, florist and a shop for toilet requisites and medicines

on the premises. There should be a telephone in each room and

telephone for use of guests and visitors and provision for a radio or

relayed music and a TV set in each room. There should be a wellequipped,

well-furnished and well-maintained dining room /

restaurant on the premises and wherever permissible by law, there

should be an elegant, well equipped bar / permit room. The kitchen,

pantry and cold storage should be professionally designed to ensure

efficiency of operation and should be well equipped.

Services - The hotel should offer both International and Indian

Cuisine and the food and beverage service should be of the highest

standard. Glassware, cutlery, silver, tablewear and all necessary

accessories should be of best quality and standard. There should be

professionally qualified, highly trained, experienced, efficient and

courteous staff in smart, clean uniforms, and the staff coming in

contact with guests should understand English. The supervisory staff

knowing at least one continental language should be rotated on duty

at all times. There should be 24-hour service for reception,

information and telephones. There should be provision for reliable

laundry and dry cleaning services. Housekeeping, at the hotel,

should be of the highest possible standard and there should be

plentiful supply of linen, blankets, towels etc., which should be of the

highest quality available. Each bedroom should be provided with a

good vacuum jug/ thermos flask with ice cold boiled drinking water

except where centrally chilled purified drinking water is provided.

There should be a special restaurant / dining room where facilities

for dancing, orchestra are available.

Four Star Category

General Features - The facade, architectural features and general

construction of the building should be distinctive and the locality

including the immediate approach and the environs should be

suitable for a hotel of this category. There should be adequate

parking facilities for cars. The hotel should have atleast 25 lettable

bedrooms all with attached bathrooms. At least 50% of the

bathrooms must have long baths or the most modern shower

chambers, with 24-hour service of hot and cold running water. All

public rooms and private rooms should be fully air conditioned and

should be well furnished with carpets, curtains, furniture, fittings etc,

in good taste. It would be advisable to employ the services of

professionally qualified and experienced interior designer of repute

for this purpose. There should be an adequate number of efficient

lifts in building of more than 2 stories (including the ground floor).

There should be a well-designated lobby and ladies: and

gentlemen's cloakrooms equipped with fittings of a standard befitting

a hotel of this category.

Facilities - There should be a reception, cash and information

counter attended by trained and experienced personnel. There

should be a bookstall, recognised travel agency, money changing

and safe deposit facilities and a left luggage room on the premises.

There should be a telephone in each room for the use of guests and

visitors and provision for a radio or relayed music in each room.

There should be a well-equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained

dining room / restaurant on the premises and wherever permissible

by law, there should be an elegant, well-equipped bar / permit room.

The kitchen, pantry, cold storage should be professionally designed

to ensure efficiency of operation and should be well equipped.

Service - The hotel should offer both international and Indian cuisine

and food and beverage service should be of the highest standards.

There should be professionally qualified, highly trained, experienced,

efficient and courteous staff in smart, clean uniform and the staff

coming into contact of the guests should possess good knowledge of

English. It will be desirable for some of the staff to possess

knowledge of foreign language and staff knowing at least one

continental language should be rotated on duty at all times. There

should be 24 hours service for reception, information and

telephones. There should be provision of reliable laundry and dry

cleaning services. Housekeeping at the hotel should be of the

highest possible standard and there should be plentiful supply of

linen, blankets, towels etc. that should be of the highest quality

available. Similarly, the cutlery and glassware should be of the

highest quality available. Each bedroom should be provided with a

vacuum jug (flask with ice cold, boiled drinking water. There should

be a special restaurant / dining room where facilities for dancing,

orchestra are provided.

Three Star Category

General Features - The architectural features and general

construction of the building should be of a very good standard and

the locality, including the immediate approach and environs should

be suitable for a very good hotel and there should be adequate

parking facilities for cars. The hotel should have at least 20 lettable

bedrooms all with attached bathrooms with bath tubs and / or

showers and should be modern in design and equipped with fittings

of a good standard with hot and cold running water. At least 50% of

the rooms should be air-conditioned and the furniture and furnishings

such as carpets, curtains, etc., should be of a very good standard

and design. There should be adequate number of lifts in the building

with more than two stories (including the ground floor). There should

be a well furnished equipped lounge and separate ladies and

gentlemen's cloak rooms equipped with fittings of a good standard.

Facilities - There should be a reception and information counter

attended by qualified and experienced staff and a bookstall,

recognised travel agency, money changing and safe deposit facilities

on the premises. There should be a telephone in each room (except

in seasonal hotels where there would be a call bell in each room and

a telephone on each floor for the use of hotel guests) and a

telephone for the use of guests and visitors to the hotel. There

should be a well-equipped and well-maintained air-conditioned

dining rooms / restaurant and where ever permissible by law, there

should be a bar / permit room. The kitchen, pantry and cold storage

should be clean and organised for orderliness and efficiency.

Service - The hotel should offer good quality cuisine both Indian as

well as continental and the food and beverage service should be of

good standard. There should be qualified, trained, experienced,

efficient and courteous staff in smart and clean uniforms and the

supervisory staff coming in contact with the guests should

understand English. The senior staff should possess a good

knowledge of English. There should be provision for laundry and dry

cleaning service. Housekeeping at the hotel should be of a very

good standard and there should be adequate supply of linen,

blankets, towels etc., of good quality. Similarly, cutlery, crockery,

glassware should be of good quality. Each bedroom should be

provided with vacuum jug / thermos flask with cold boiled drinking

water. The hotel should provide orchestra and ball room facilities and

should attempt to present specially choreographed Indian Cabarets.

Two Star Category

General Features - The building should be well constructed and the

locality and environs including the approach should be suitable for a

good hotel. The hotel should have at least 10 lettable bedrooms of

which at least 75% should have attached bathrooms with showers

and a common bathroom for every four of the remaining rooms and

should be with modern sanitation and running cold water with

adequate supply of hot water, soap and toilet papers. 25% of the

rooms should be air-conditioned (where there should be heating

arrangements in all the rooms) and all rooms must be properly

ventilated, clean, and comfortable with all the necessary items of

furniture. There should be a well-furnished lounge.

Facilities - There should be a reception counter with a telephone.

There should be a telephone or call bell in each room and there

should be a telephone on each floor unless each room has a

separate telephone. There should be a well-maintained and wellequipped

dining room / restaurant serving clean, wholesome food

and a clean, hygienic and well-equipped kitchen and pantry.

Service - There should be experienced, courteous and efficient staff

in smart and clean uniforms. The supervisory staff coming in contact

with guests should understand English. There should be provision

for laundry and dry cleaning services. Housekeeping at the hotel

should be of a good standard and good quality linen, blanket, towels

etc., should be provided. Similarly, crockery, cutlery and glasswares

should be of a good quality.

One Star Category

General Features - The general construction of building should be

in a good locality and environs, including immediate approach should

be suitable. The hotel should have at least 10 lettable bedrooms of

which at least 25% should have attached bathrooms with a common

bathroom for every four of the remaining rooms. At least 25% of the

bathrooms should have western style W/Cs. All bathrooms should

have modern sanitation and running cold water with adequate supply

of hot water, soap and toilet paper. The rooms should be properly

ventilated and should have clean and comfortable bed and furniture.

Facilities - There should be a reception counter with a telephone

and a telephone for the use of guests and visitors. There should be a

clean and moderately well equipped dining room / restaurant serving

clean, wholesome food and there should be a clean, well-equipped

kitchen and pantry.

Service - There should be experienced, courteous and efficient staff

in smart and clean uniforms and the senior staff coming in contact

with guests should possess working knowledge of English.

Housekeeping at the hotel should be of a good standard and clean

and good quality linen, blankets, towel, etc., should be supplied.

Similarly, crockery, cutlery and glassware should be of good quality.

According to Ownership and Management

1. Independent Hotels (hotel consortia / cooperation) - These

hotels are on ownership basis and do not have any affiliation

or contract through any other property. And also they do not

have any tie-up with any other hotels with regards to policy,

procedures and financial obligations. The advantage in this

type of hotel is that they need not maintain a particular image

and they are not bound to maintain any set targets, but can

independently adapt quickly to the changing trends.

2. Chain / Group Hotels (public owned / franchise) - There are

many single owner hotels, yet more and more hotels and

motels are now getting affiliated to each other. This gives

them the advantage of a large central organization providing

reservation system, management services, financial strength,

expertise, manpower specialities, merchandises and

promotional help.

3. Management Contractual Hotel – is another type of chain

organization which manages properties owned by other

individuals or partners. The contract is entered on long term

basis between the owner and the operator and usually as per

the contract:

§ owner retains the legal and financial responsibilities

§ operator pays for the operating expenses and collects

from the owner an agreed upon fees

§ owner is responsible for paying taxes, insurance and

servicing debt.

According to Type of Plan (Tariff Pattern)

1. European Plan - In this case only the lodging i.e. bed is

offered. Thus the charges are made for lodging only. The

guest is free to take or not to take teas, breakfast, and meals

in the hotel. He has a choice of eating out at any other good

restaurant. The guest is booked to pay for lodging only and is

charged separately for all other things or services he enjoys

or consumes. This system is generally followed by youth

hostels or hotels which are situated in metropolitan cities. In

India most of the hotels are being run on European plan.

Almost all the public sector hotels are run on this basis.

2. Continental Plan - In the case of continental plan, bed and

breakfast are included in the tariff charges. Thus bed is

offered along with breakfast and the guest is, however, free

to take his meal and tea as he likes. Thus the guest tariff

includes lodging and ‘bed and breakfast’ and for other he is

separately billed.

3. American Plan - Hotel where American plan is prevalent,

boarding and lodging is provided in the charge. The tariff

fixed includes board and lodging. It is an all inclusive full

board tariff. Accommodation and three meals daily are

included in the price of the room. It includes bed, breakfast

and two principal meals and evening tea. It does not include

EMT or coffee after lunch, or dinner. The needs are usually

'table d'hote menu'. It is also known as 'full pension'. This

analysis is mostly used at those tourist resorts, which are not

situated in big cities.

4. Modified American Plan - The tourists mostly prefer this

plan, as it is comparatively more flexible. It is offered in most

of the good hotels and is normally by arrangement. It includes

hotel accommodation, breakfast and either lunch or dinner in

the price of the room. Thus, in this type of accommodation

bed and breakfast and along with it one principal meal, lunch

or dinner at the discretion of the guest is also included. It

generally includes continental breakfast and either 'table

d’hôte lunch or dinner in the room rates. It is also known as

'demi-pension'. It has been observed that the Indian style

local hoteIs in India follow the European plan. However, and

the western style hotels operating in India which cater the

foreign tourists, operates on the American plan.

According to Size

Classification is made based on the number of lettable

rooms. It can be indicated either by rooms as is done in America or

by the number of beds as is done in Europe.

· Small hotels: 25 rooms or less

· Average hotels: 25 rooms to 90 rooms

· Above average hotels: 80 rooms to 250 rooms

· Large hotels: 250 rooms and above

According to Visitors Stop-over

1. Residential Hotels - Residential hotels are also called as

apartment hotels or apartment house. Room in a residential

hotel is sold on a monthly or yearly basis. Rooms may be

furnished or unfurnished, single or suite. Almost all residential

hotels operate a restaurant, offer telephone service, laundry

and valet service. Advance rents are usually collected while

other charges are billed weekly. These types of hotels

normally operate on European plan. Recent developments in

this area include cooperative hotels and condominiums in

which the tenants own the apartment and pay the

management a fee for maintenance.

2. Semi Residential Hotels - These hotels provide

accommodation to guests on weekly or monthly basis like

residential hotels as well as on per day basis like transient

hotels. Reduced rates are provided to long staying guests.

Transient guests who want to take advantage of reduced

rates for longer stay also come to such establishments.

3. Transient / Transit Hotels - Hotel guests who fall under the

category of transient guests are those who are en route

guests i.e. who are in the process of moving from one

destination to another and stop at the hotel for a short period

of time as against a terminal guest who has reached his final

destination. Hence hotels, which cater to a transient / transit

guest are called transient hotels. They find their origin in

olden days inns. Examples of transient hotels are motels,

motor hotels, airport hotels etc.

4. Resort Hotels - Resort hotels are located at resort places

such as islands, exotic locations, hill stations, beaches and

health resorts and spas i.e. summer resorts, winter sports

resorts and all season resorts etc. with breathtaking beauty

and typical scenery. People go to these places for relaxation,

to enjoy themselves, and to get away from the hectic and

demanding city life or for health reasons away from hectic city

life or to pursue a specific interest / activity.

According to its Relationship with Transport

1. Motels - Motels, motor hotels and motor courts are designed

to serve the needs of motorists. They must provide car

parking, garage, accommodation, rest facilities and

recreational facilities and hence motels are generally

equipped with filling stations, motor garage, service stations,

accessories, elevator service to automobile entrants,

restaurants etc. The tariff is very low as compared to city

hotels. They have easy access from highways, being located

on highways or at road junctions. Motel accommodation is

ranked with hotels in general in many countries.

2. Railway Hotels - These type of hotels are located near the

railway stations. These hotels provide temporary lodging and

food to the railway passengers. Mostly owned by the railway

authorities.

3. Airport Hotels - The location of airports far away from cities,

the growth of the airline industry, the increase in air traffic and

the postponement or cancellation of flights has made the

airlines companies responsible to take care of hundreds of

transit passengers and built the hotels near the airports. The

glaring example of such hotels is the Centaur Hotel at Delhi

and Bombay owned by Hotel Corporation of India, a,

subsidiary of Air India. These hotels get business from other

travelers who require a place to rest while waiting for

connecting flights. Many travelers prefer to arrive at the

airport the night before and get a good night rest at these

airport hotels. In addition to room, restaurant facilities, coffee

shop and main dinning room, most hotels have added

banquet and meeting rooms to attract the social functions

and meetings from companies located nearby, in order to run

their business profitably. In most of the big cities these hotels

are favorite location for area meetings, as it result in saving in

taxi fares and times.

4. Floating Hotels - This type of hotels are located on the

surface of water such as sea, lake etc. Such hotels provide

exclusive and exotic atmosphere. All the facilities of a first

class hotel are there in this category of hotels. In many

countries old luxury ships have been converted into floating

hotels. In India in Kashmir valley, houseboats are used as

first class luxury hotels. They provide wonderful experience to

a tourist. The First Floating Hotel of India, a Rs. 31 crore

hotel with four storeys, will be operational in Kolkata very

soon. The hotel with a coffee shop and 73 rooms and three

suites can be called as the First Floating Hotel of India.

According Type of Patronage

· Hotels catering to women only

· Hotels catering to families only

· Hotels catering to commercial men only

· Hotels catering to high society or affluent category only

· Hotels catering to retired people only

· Hotels catering to students only

According to Length of Operating Period

· Seasonal hotels

· Two-seasonal hotels

· Year around hotels

According to Location

· Resort hotels.

· Suburban hotels

· Airport hotels (Airtel)

· Sea side hotels or Beach hotels or Coastal hotels

· Transient hotels

· Country hotels

· Floating Hotels

· City hotels

· Highway hotels

· Town center hotels (down-town hotels)

· Space resorts

· Hill or mountain hotels

· Ski resorts / Ski lodges

· Boatels

· Hotels

· Inland hotels

According to Purpose

· International hotels

· Commercial hotels.

· Hostels

· Business hotels

· Holiday hotels

· Transient hotels

· Resort hotels

· Motels

· Inns

· Clubs

· Convention hotels