A 6-Star by any other name...

Wednesday, 04 August 2010 15:01

Europe's first six-star service hotel, the Conrad Palácio da Quinta Hotel Resort & Spa, is under construction at Quinta do Lago in the Algarve. But, six-star ratings are self-attributed, with a promise of unsurpassed luxury and service‹essentially a boast of exceptional quality. Star ratings in Portugal are determined by government agencies. Portugal has overhauled and redefined its tourism accommodation classification system and uses a points system to award a star rating.  Turismo de Portugal offers four re-designed categories: "estabelecimentos hoteleiros" (hotel establishments - hotels, apartment hotels, pousadas), "aldeamentos turísticos" (tourist villages), "apartamentos turísticos" (tourist apartments), and "conjuntos turísticos" (resorts). The other products come under the auspices of municipal authorities: varying options in rural tourism, RV and camp sites, and nature tourist developments. This replaces ten categories of tourism product : "pensões" (hostels), "estalagems" (inns), "motéis" (motels), "moradias turísticas", "turismo rural" and "casas de abrigo" (rural accommodation), "parques de campismo rural" (camp sites), "centros de acolhimento" (shelters), "casa-retiro" (retreats), and "turismo de aldeia" (village accommodation). The principal objective behind the new legislation, apart from re-qualifying the national tourism product, is to periodically monitor its quality. Underpinning these product changes is an exhaustive set of criteria. The list is composed of 139 different obligatory and optional hotel guest amenity requirements. The star status of tourist accommodation throughout the country is now determined by the extent to which these requirements are met.  In order to obtain any star ranking, a hotel in Portugal must satisfy 31 compulsory obligations‹with a minimum defined floor space being one of the most decisive prerequisites. Here, Turismo de Portugal will refer to architects' blueprints to establish the exact dimensions of any given property before making a final decision on its classification. Other statutory requirements include the installation of an air conditioning unit that controls room temperature, and of a means of outside communication‹either a fixed or mobile telephone facility, as well as a fax machine or internet access.  It is only after meeting these compulsory obligations that hotels are free to earn points in order to achieve their desired classification. Points are earned when optional guest amenities are added and Turismo de Portugal auditors agree. Collecting 108 points will earn one star; 138 points two stars; 188 points three stars; 210 points four stars; and 218 points will garner the maximum five stars. The new regulations allow some options as to what needs to be complied with, and provides opportunities for hotel owners to upgrade their star status. In order to help a move upwards, the Portuguese government has made available a credit line worth 10 million euros.