How Hotels Get Their Star Ratings

When planning a trip, finding comfortable accommodation that aligns with your budget is a priority for every traveller. Online hotel listings often feature star ratings as part of their promotion. A higher star count typically indicates superior amenities, which naturally corresponds to higher prices. However, it’s worth considering how these hotel star ratings are actually determined. Are they simply marketing embellishments, or do they provide valuable insights that every guest should understand?

Star ratings can indeed be a source of confusion for travellers globally. Some hotels may claim an impressive number of stars, but the existence of both official and unofficial rating systems can sometimes make the reliability of these ratings uncertain. This can make it challenging for travellers to truly know what to expect as guests before they arrive at their chosen hotel in 2025. Understanding the different types of rating systems and what they generally signify can help you make more informed accommodation choices for your travels.

Are hotel star ratings a global standard?

Image Credit: Sean Barnard

The answer here is no. However, guests who stay in two hotels with the same star rating are likely to receive similar amenities and services. Similar does not necessarily equate to the same quality but rather refers to the same level of features. For example, a newly opened posh hotel in Brisbane with a bathtub and walk-in closet gets the same rating as a hotel in Bangkok that has been accommodating guests for more than twenty years. Ratings are quite subjective and can depend on the culture of a particular country. While the standard rating ranges from one to five stars, cities such as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates showcase hotels with six- and seven-star ratings.

Several rating bodies and companies have made an attempt to standardise the ratings by evaluating hotels every five years to upgrade or downgrade their star ratings. Excellent service, updated amenities, and a comfortable stay are the key aspects that are being evaluated relative to the achievement of a particular rating. Different evaluating bodies use a variety of rating schemes. Many systems, such as that launched by Forbes Travel Guide in 1958, use a standard involving a star rating. Other evaluating companies use diamonds instead of stars to rate hotel and restaurant services. In recent years, however, the rating systems have been criticised due to the overly complex and intricate scoring mechanics that a layperson would likely be unable to comprehend. The lack of a unified global scoring system for evaluating hotels also weakens the credibility of this scheme.

The differences in hotel ratings

As a traveller, understanding the basics of hotel ratings will help you identify which accommodation suits your needs and has a reasonable daily rate. This discussion will focus on the more common star ratings that correspond to the key features and services provided by hotels.

One-star Hotel

Hotels rated with one star offer basic room options, such as a bed and a side table. Bathrooms are likely to be shared per building or per floor, and refreshments are sold by accessing a vending machine or through a common self-service cafeteria.

Two-star hotel

Image Credit: Michael Coghlan

Two-star hotels offer the same basic room options as one-star hotels but offer the additional amenities of coloured television and a hotel restaurant.

• • • Examples of two-star hotels
      • Clay Hotel – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • Mandalay Inn – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Three-star hotel

Hotels with a three-star rating have several room options, such as Deluxe, Suite, or Premier. Rooms may also be given varying names depending on the hotel’s preference. There are also improvements in the availability of in-house amenities, such as a gymnasium, a full-service restaurant, as well as business facilities and a kiosk.

• • • Examples of Three-star Hotels
      • Ata Hotel Kedoya – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • Amos Cozy Hotel – Jakarta, Indonesia

Four-star hotel

A hotel with a four-star rating shares similar amenities as a three-star hotel, but it includes an additional restaurant and bar option, concierge, and a swimming pool, among others.

• • • Examples of Four-star hotels
      • Nagoa Grande – Goa, India
      • Harmony Saigon Hotel – Saigon, Vietnam

Five-star hotel

Image Credit: Fabio Achilli

Five-star hotels are considered as having the highest standard rating. These hotels offer multiple room options with luxurious and tasteful decorations and maximum comfort. Rooms in five-star hotels are considerably bigger than those in lower ranked hotels. Even the most basic rooms in a five-star hotel are spacious and allow guests to experience luxury.

• • • Examples of Five-star hotels
      • Solaire Resort and Casino – Manila, Philippines
      • Fullerton Hotel – Singapore
      • The Peninsula – Bangkok, Thailand

Six- or Seven-star hotel

Image Credit: Bertrand Duperrin

Opulent and awe-inspiring, these hotels are amazing. With additional services such as a personal hotel attendant in every room, exquisite furnishings, and advanced technological features in every room, it is not difficult to turn a day outdoors into a staycation whenever you are staying in hotels rated with six or seven stars. Although these ratings are deemed by critics to be exaggerations, the personal experience offered by such hotels is undoubtedly a realisation of ultimate luxury.

• • • Examples of Six- or Seven-star hotels
      • Maxim’s Hotel – Manila, Philippines
      • Pangu 7 Star Hotel – Beijing, China
      • Burj Al Arab – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Image Credit: Merlin Phuket

As you can see, ratings vary depending on the additional services that a hotel can offer. What makes a hotel stand out from others that share a similar rating will be based on numerous factors, as outlined below.

• Location
  • Location will be the biggest factor that determines the overall score of a hotel outside of its internal amenities. The convenience provided by a great location is a well-received benefit that almost every guest will appreciate.
• Additional Hotel Amenities
  • Services such as airport transfers, high-speed internet connection, spa, and others will attract a broader audience as they provide more than what a conventional hotel can offer. Memberships and discounts can also add up to the average guest volume because of perks and complementary bonuses.
• Hotel History
  • For sentimental guests, a hotel’s story or legacy can be a primary consideration. Some travellers prefer accommodations that are comfortable and that have an accompanying history. Historic hotels are like tourist attractions by themselves.

Ratings are subjective – and so are experiences

Given the subjective nature of star and diamond ratings, the true value offered by a hotel all boils down to how an evaluator screened and scored the overall features and offerings. That being said, ratings and experience are actually subjective depending on whom you ask and what the evaluator is specifically looking for. There is no perfect hotel – only a perfect moment that can happen during your stay. You will find countless four- and five-star hotels that still receive negative feedback. It takes a matter of research and a hint of contentment on how you can make the best of your experience in a hotel. Be “realistically sceptic” when looking for a hotel and reviewing its ratings online. It will be a mind-blowing conquest when find a hotel that does not have a flaw. Ultimately, how enjoyable your experience will be can best be determined by your own personal standards.