Impending Changes in the Star System
Hotel and Motel Classification System Hotelstars Union
New over Europe star system Hotelstars Union come to force in Estonia on 2th of May 2011.
Hotelstars Union, whose goal is to create a common European star system to make it easier for clients to understand and find expected quality in hotels, was launched in Europe at the start of 2010. Hotelstars Union was launched by 7 European countries – Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Holland and Sweden. In addition to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also announced their plans to transfer to the new system. More than 17,000 hotels in 7 countries have already been classified according to the common European star system.
In Estonia, the hotel and motel star system is administered by the Estonian Association of Hotels and Restaurants pursuant to the directive of the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications. Here you can find the Directive of the Minister Granting the EAHR the Rights to operate as Assignor of Category.
The new star system is built on a combination of both the minimum requirements as well as optional requirements.
Under the new Hotelstars Union system hotels are categorized from 1-5 stars and motels from 1-3 stars.
A rating is granted for five years. No less than once a year the inspector carried out a follow-up inspection in the hotel or motel that received the rating.
Applying for stars is voluntary.
The prerequisite for the review of a rating application and for granting and holding a rating, the registration of the hotel or motel in the register of economic activities and the compliance of the accommodation enterprise with the requirements established for the accommodation enterprise and with the requirements established in the classification requirements regarding the rating.