Why Five-Star Hotel Facilities Aren't Always the Same

October 15, 2025 | 11:20 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Five-star hotels are considered the highest tier of accommodations. The facilities provided by these hotels are arguably the best, from room service, linens to their food. However, people who book rooms in five-star hotels may find varying levels of quality. This is due to the differences in the institutions that measure and verify that a hotel meets the luxurious five-star status.

As reported by Travel and Leisure, the hotel rating system initially emerged in the 1960s when the Mobil Oil Corporation, now known as ExxonMobil, published a hotel guide. They created ratings based on stars to indicate various levels of facilities. Originally sold at Mobil gas stations for $1.95 (around Rp32,000), the Mobil Travel Guide was created for a region. In 2009, it became the Forbes Travel Guide.

Subsequently, various international organizations emerged that set the rules for five-star classification. However, travelers still rely on star ratings to gain insights before booking a hotel.

Different Criteria in Each Country

Travel expert Melanie Fish from Hotels.com said there is no single global checklist for facilities that determines the level of stars. This means that each organization's criteria will vary by country. "For example, not every five-star hotel has to have a pool, and many four-star hotels might offer spas or luxury touches," she said.

Throughout Europe, hotel star ratings are regulated by the Hotelstars Union. They have a specific set of criteria that hotels must adhere to. According to the Hotelstars rules, five-star hotels must have a receptionist available 24 hours a day, a lounge area, and valet service in public areas. In private rooms, hotels are required to provide turn-down service at night, blackout curtains, a safe, bathrobes, slippers, and other amenities.

One-star hotel standards are more flexible, requiring only the provision of towel replacements upon request, a television with a remote, and other criteria.

Star Ratings, based in Australia, sets hotel standards in over 70 countries based on 200 different criteria. These criteria determine whether a hotel is rated as one, two, three, four, or five stars. The organization monitors thousands of hotels and provides a way for travelers to lodge complaints if their experience does not match the advertised star rating.

According to Star Ratings, one-star accommodations are offered for low-cost facilities, while five-star accommodations are provided for properties that exhibit luxury in all areas of their operations.

However, many hotels now claim to have a six or seven-star rating like the luxurious accommodations in Dubai. But according to the travel site Kayak, this is simply a marketing message provided by the hotels. The standard hotel rating system only goes up to five stars.

Ratings Other Than Stars

Aside from the star system, there are actually other classifications. For example, AAA regularly updates its Five Diamond list. The evaluations are conducted by independent inspectors who make secret visits to monitor hotel services. "AAA is the only travel brand that uses a Diamond designation scale with published guidelines, offering a consistent and objective standard that travelers can trust," said Chris Anderson, the director of the AAA Diamond program, in a statement to T+L.

The Michelin Guide also created the Michelin Key. This title is awarded by secret inspectors, just like Michelin Star restaurants. The Michelin Key hotels are evaluated based on five universal criteria: excellence in architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for price; and significant contribution to the environment, according to the Michelin Guide.

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