As the value of Naira maintains a free fall, it is time to travel on purpose and avoid unnecessary expenses, especially in the New Year. However, as much as accommodation is very necessary for travelers, you cannot travel very far without encountering different kinds of ratings for hotels in places you are visiting for business or leisure. But, since many establishments use different sets of guidelines, it is a challenge to know exactly how to compare hotels.
The star-rating system was originally created in the USA by Mobil Travel Guides (often confused with AAA diamond ratings), which is a very subjective way of measuring hotel quality. To understand it best, just look at it in a very general way with these guidelines:
1 star: Very basic, no-frills accommodation
2 star: Modest, comfortable and affordable
3 star: Nice styling, extra amenities
4 star: Very nice lodging, many extras, very comfortable
5 star: A luxury hotel with everything
Besides the world’s tallest building, Burj Al Arab, the only 7-star hotel in the world today is in Dubai. Bet, it offers more luxury than paradise as privileged guests say. It is simply exclusivity more than money can afford.
Also in many countries around the world, a 5-star hotel is a very luxurious hotel. Amenities could include room service, ballroom(s), pool, sauna, fitness centre, spa, valet service, concierge, tour desk, restaurants, bar, and lots more.
For Europe, quality varies from country-to-country. Ratings are usually provided by an agency of some sort, and often ignore any ambience or charm the hotel may have.
There is no way to rate a 5-star hotel in New York or San Francisco as being exactly equal to one in London or Paris. European standards are different, with prices generally higher in most, but not in all countries.
In Nigeria, so many hotel parade themselves as 5-star when they are just below 3-Star, and charging many unsuspecting guests, especially those that book online 5-star rates. Going by figures, it is not surprising that the only hotels with a somewhat 5-star rating are Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city, and most recently, InterContinental Lagos. For lack of meaningful investment in the sector in the past years, poor standard, lack of maintenance culture, lack of skilled personnel, infrastructure issue like erratic power supply, security, among others, the Nigerian hospitality industry is still lagging behind in 5-star hotel rating.
Even with the opening of hotels every other day across the country, the 5-star rated hotels are still scarce.
But with the recent investments in the sector, especially on Lagos Island, hopefully, the likes of Intercontinental Hotel on Kofo Abayomi, ongoing Le Meridien Hotel Ikoyi by Starwood Group, Radisson Blu on Ozumba Mbadiwe, among two other ongoing projects in Abuja, more 5-stars will set in with more luxury rooms, skilled personnel and high-profile jobs in Nigerian hospitality industry.
When in doubt of the rating, ask. Remember, it is your right to always ask to see the room first, and decide for yourself if it lives up to its star rating.
OBINNA EMELIKE
