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Following on from the announcement made at the National Tourism Conference in June, the reform of the hotel classification system is now underway. Hervé Novelli, Secretary of State for Tourism, held a press conference on 8 September in Deauville to present the reform, with particular emphasis on the creation of a fifth star.
The internationally recognised fifth star was absent from the French classification system so far, in which the highest category is 4-star Luxury. However, in May, Hervé Novelli announced that the fifth star would now be awarded to properties fulfilling the necessary criteria.
The current system, which allocates stars to French hotels, dates from the 1960s. The Secretary of State outlined that this should "be reviewed" to adapt to the needs of tourists.
Criteria for the awarding of stars vary from one country to the next and can often appear extremely arbitrary. A five-star property in Tunisia, for example, will not have the same standing, nor the same rates, as a five-star hotel in the United States. Nevertheless, several criteria are common to the most exclusive luxury hotels around the globe.
The world's leading hotels offer their guests a high level of personalised service, with concierges, valet parking attendants and multi-lingual staff all essential features. Five-star hotels are also very luxurious and equipped with the latest high-tech gadgetry (LCD screens, Wi-Fi, etc). Additional services, such as gastronomic restaurants, spas, fitness centres etc, are also considered part and parcel of top-end luxury properties.
Hervé Novelli indicated that the decree relating to hotel reform would be published in the Official Journal at the end of the year.
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