What do hotel ‘star’ ratings really mean? Here’s a breakdown

What do hotel ‘star’ ratings really mean? Here’s a breakdown

Ever notice that a single hotel can be rated three, four and even five stars? That's the case with Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands, which is rated on Booking.com, on Forbes Travel Guide and on Frommer's. This is because star ratings are "not regulated in a consistent way across the industry," said Yngvar Stray, the general manager of Capella Singapore. Booking.com said its stars are designated by the hotels themselves. Forbes Travel Guide, however, uses professional, anonymous inspectors who access "900 objective stands," according to its website. And to add to the confusion, Frommer's website states its star ratings only go from one ("recommended") to three stars ("exceptional"). The sheer number of companies that award stars isn't helping. Decades ago, few companies handed out stars — or diamonds, as the American Automobile Association calls its ratings. But now, countless magazines, guidebooks and websites issue them. And in places like Australia, India and Dubai, hotels are rated by governments and tourism boards. Can the stars be aligned? Some organizations are certainly trying. The non-profit organization Hotelstars Union uses common criteria to unify star ratings across Europe. So far, 20 countries have signed on, and more than 22,000 hotels have been classified.