The Knesset’s Economic Committee on Tuesday, approved the new criteria for ranking hotels in Israel as submitted by the Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov, with some minor changes. The new criteria will become effective within 8 months of the date of their publication. The Ministry of Tourism is investing 4 million NIS in the new rating system

According to the new criteria, participation in the rating system will be voluntary. The hotels will be rated according to criteria under the European Hotelstars standards which apply in eleven countries in the European Union. The system includes 270 criteria which make up the hotel star rating, which ranges from one to five stars with the addition of a “plus” between stars for intermediate indications. A list of hotels with their rating will be published on the Ministry of Tourism’s website and a hotel that has not been rated will appear as “unrated”. The rating will be valid for 3 years.

A hotel interested in taking part in the rating system will submit a request to the relevant person charged with hotel supervision at the Ministry of Tourism. The request will be forwarded to the professional body with experience in rating hotels according to the Hotelstars system, which will be selected following the Ministry of Tourism’s tender. The company will check each hotel according to specific agreed standards and will submit results to a supervisor who will then decide the final rating.

In keeping with the rating system, hotels may only advertise and market themselves using the star ratings they have been awarded. Hotels that have not been awarded rankings under this system may not advertise themselves with any other star ratings in Israel. Hotel chains that employ an internal rating system may continue with this rating system as long as this rating system is not based on stars or similar. In addition, hotels that receive a star rating are obliged to advertise their tariff including all necessary taxes. Prices for foreign tourists will exclude taxes that the foreign tourist is exempt from paying, with clear indication that the price is for foreign tourists only. In addition, it was agreed that the committee advising the minister would include at least two places for women.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov: “The approval of the hotel ranking system allows us to select the company that will implement the rankings according to internationally-recognized standards of quality. The ratings will bring transparency to the hotel industry, will encourage competition and, as a result, improved service and a reduction in the cost of vacation packages in Israel.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)