ABU DHABI, 28 May 2008 — The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has decided to classify hotels and hotel apartments in Abu Dhabi by the end of this year.
Hotels will be classified on a sliding scale of one star to five stars and hotel apartments will be classified as either deluxe, superior or standard, said a statement issued by ADTA yesterday.
“This is a major step forward in the delivery of destination integrity,” said Mubarak Al-Muhairi, director general, ADTA.
“It will provide much-needed consistency to tour operators selling the destination, successfully manage the expectations of our respected visitors and ultimately ensure a level of quality performance from accommodation providers in line with the development of a world-class destination,” he added.
The ADTA’s classification inspection team will begin its reviews of Abu Dhabi’s 49 hotels and 49 hotel apartment facilities within the next two months.
“The system will also provide a framework for hotel investors when designing their properties to include the necessary facilities and services to attract their desired market groups. It will also act as an incentive to hotel owners and managers to upgrade their facilities,” said Al-Muhairi.
“This is a world-class system which will be upgraded every two years in accordance with prevailing international market standards and to reflect the increasing status of Abu Dhabi as a global destination of distinction,” explained Nasser Saif Al-Reyami, director, Licensing and Classification Division, ADTA.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is set to launch a new classification system later this year, as the industry matures. Dubai’s hotel classification system will undergo an overhaul this year with new criteria and standards to be applied across the hospitality sector.
The new system is expected to be introduced in the second quarter of this year. The previous classification system was introduced in 1998.
According to sources, the planned classification system will encompass several areas of hotel operations, including new medical and disability access requirements, and applying standards to a property’s conference and banqueting, spa and leisure, and business center facilities.
Sharjah has already implemented hotel classification law from January this year.
