What is a five-star hotel?
Five-star hotels are properties that offer their guests the highest levels
of luxury through personalized services, a vast range of amenities, and
sophisticated accommodations. Though there is no standard rating
system for hotels, properties earn 5-star distinction by providing guests
experiences that meet or exceed even the highest of expectations for
comfort, décor, and luxury.
5 Star Hotel Criteria
5Star-HotelsThough a luxury hotel may share many five-star hotel
characteristics, a true five-star hotel should satisfy all these criteria:
5-star service
Five-star hotel employees should be polite, attentive, discreet, and can anticipate
guests’ needs. All-in-all, consistently flawless excellence is the expectation.
- Standalone concierge staff available at least 16 hours a day
- A high staff-to-room ratio—ideally above 2.5
- Multilingual staff
- 24-hour reception, room service, valet parking, butler, doorman
- Nightly turndown
- Easy communication with hotel staff - even via text or app
- Daily housekeeping that is also available upon request at any time
- Laundry, ironing, dry cleaning, and shoe polishing
- Guest elevators separate from staff elevators
- Medical Team and resources on call
- Luggage storage in which bags are out of guest view
- Fine dining restaurant(s) and a standalone lounge and/or bar
- Transfers and executive or house car
- Childcare options including vetted babysitting service
- Pre-check-in registration and preferences
- Local products and services, especially for dining
5-Star In-Room Amenities
- Luxurious Robes & Slippers
- Electric safe
- Laundry bags
- Full-length mirror with lighting
- Flat-screen TV with international programming
- Outlets for personal electronics, especially extra USB plugs
- Smart TV features with access to streaming services
- Stocked mini bar (with cocktail and wine accessories)
- Selection of daily newspapers
- WIFI
- Specialty night lighting
- At least four types of spa treatments
- Digital room key entry
5-Star Comfort
- Guest rooms must be plush and inviting—especially the bed (ideally, there is a
memory foam bed with high thread count sheets)
- Pillow menu
- Blackout shades
- Bathrobes, slippers, luxury toiletries, and large fluffy towels
- Night lighting in walking areas and bathrooms
- Yoga or fitness equipment available for use in-room
- Poolside daybeds, umbrellas, lotions, ice water, attendants, and food and
beverage service
One example from Bloomberg Businessweek describes foraging in the woods for
parts of your meal (Five-Star Mushroom Hunting Programs Are Newest Amenity at
Top Hotels).
(THIS IS SO IMPORTANT YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE FISHING FOR
THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE AMENITIES)
Others include in-room drink stations for cocktails or guest-use of boat or yacht (Gili
Lankanfushi guests can access a 14-metre Riviera yacht). A hotel in Northern
California Will Fill Your Room with Fresh Flowers and Houseplants — That You
Can Take Home". Travel Leisure also found this hotel in the Belize that will puts
cocooning butterflies in rooms for guests to release.
(Also, the yacht part is also very important to use as part of the concept)
And as more hotels aspire to five-star quality, we expect to see the very best hotels
advance the standards of luxury. Here is what does exist in many five-star hotels, and
will become standard for luxury hotels soon:
Remote access to room lighting, climate, and "do not disturb"
Circadian lighting
Further upgraded coffee machines
Bluetooth-enabled door locks
Customizable smart beds
Sustainable and environmentally-friendly focus
Who awards hotels 5 stars?
There is no universal standard for hotel ratings.
Terms such as Deluxe/Luxury, First Class/Superior, Tourist Class/Standard, and
Budget Class/Economy are more widely accepted as hotel types, not hotel standards.
In North America, AAA hotel ratings are from 1 to 5 diamonds. The Forbes (Mobil)
Travel Guide only ranks 4- and 5-star hotels.
In Europe, the Hotelstars Union has standard hotel star ratings applicable to properties
for more than 15 countries. Switzerland uses hotelleriesuisse which confirms a certain
level of quality service, infrastructure, and equipment. The UK uses the Automobile
Association's (AA) 1-to-5-star ratings.
Many other nations have laws to define hotel rating criteria.
In New Zealand, Qualmark, part of Tourism New Zealand, grades hotels from 1 to 5
stars.
In Australia, the Auto Clubs (NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA and RACT) have
awarded hotels star ratings that incorporate guest feedback. The ratings are now
managed by the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC).
In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism maintains hotel rating standards with a
system that grades properties between 1 and 5 stars.
The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) grades hotels based on strict
criteria and conditions in six categories.
India's classifications are handled by the Ministry of Tourism's Hotel and Restaurant
Association Classification Committee (HRACC). The categories are 1 to 5 Stars and 5
Star Deluxe as well as categories for heritage: Heritage Grand, Heritage Classic, and
Heritage Basic.
While it might be great for marketing, there are no 7-star or 6-star hotels.
In addition to meeting the criteria above, all of the Five Star Alliance hotels must
maintain a high degree of satisfaction from guests across review sites and via
feedback provided directly to us. This article and the details get updated frequently
based on changing standards and newly available criteria.
