CLASSIFICATION OF HOTELS

 

CLASSIFICATION OF HOTEL

Classification can be done on the basis of:

    • Size

    • Heritage

    • Location, clientele, facilities

    • Star

    • Ownership

    • Levels of services

    • Supplementary accommodation

1.CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF SIZE

    • According to the number of rooms 
      • Small hotels: 25 or less lettable rooms
      • Medium: 26-100 lettable rooms
      • Large :    400-600 lettable rooms
      • Very large: More than 300 lettable rooms

    2.CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF HERITAGE

      • Classification is done by Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA)

      • Added new dimensions to the cultural tourism

      • Forts and palaces of the royal families which has been converted into a hotel after their decline

      • Each room of the hotel has its own history to offer to the guest

      • Guest are served traditional cuisine and décor gives a glimpse of the past.

      • EG. Taj lake palace, Udaipur

      • Guest are entertained by local artists

      • Condition: no change in the original plan of the building interiors can be modified

    CLASSIFICATION OF HERITAGE HOTEL AS PER MINISTRY OF TOURISM

      • Heritage: Hotels in havelis, palaces between  1935-1950

      • Heritage Classic: Hotels built between 1920-1935

      • Heritage  Grand: Hotels built prior to 1920

    3. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF LOCATION, CLINTELE AND FACILITIES

      • Commercial hotel

      • Transit

      • Resort

      • Residential

      • Motels

      • Casino

      • Conference

      • Convention

      • Bed and breakfast

    COMMERCIAL HOTEL

      • Also called Downtown hotel

      • Location:  Heart/center of the city, convenient distance from the market, business center’s, public offices etc.

      • Clientele: Business guest, high income group

      • Length of stay: 2 days – 1week

      • Check out time:12 noon basis

    Example: The Oberois, New Delhi

      • Facilities:

      • 24hr coffee shop

      • Health club

      • Swimming pool

      • Specialty restaurants

      • Conference halls

      • Business center

      • Well equipped room

    RESORT HOTEL

      • Location: Away from city noise, outskirts of city with lot of scenic beauty

      • Clientele: Holiday makers, health conscious segment, leisure trip travelers

      • Length of stay: 1 week – 1 month

      • Check out time: 12 noon basis

      • Season based: vacation time or weekends

      • Example: Club Mahindra, Country Inn,

      • Facilities: Same as commercial hotel along with a range of indoor games

    TRANSIT /AIRPORT HOTELS

      • Location : Near ports of entry

      • Clientele: Layover passengers, stopovers

      • Length of stay: Few hours -1 day

      • Check-out : Day /hourly basis

      • Facilities: Same as commercial hotel

    MOTELS

      • Location: Highways, roadways

      • Clientele: Highway travelers

      • Length of stay: 1 night – 2 days

      • Checkout : Night basis

      • Facilities: Parking area, garage, gas station, road maps, foods & drinks

      • Concept common in European countries

    RESIDENTIAL HOTEL

      • Facilities: Basic comforts of room and food for longer duration

      • Services provided : sitting room, bedroom, daily housekeeping, telephones

    CASINO

      • Provide gambling facilities, extravagant floorshows

      • Have state of art gambling facilities, bars, specialty restaurants, round the clock room service, well furnished rooms for its guest.

      • Example: Luxor hotel and casino, Vegas

    MICE HOTELS

      • Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and exhibitions

      • Hotels having 300 – 400 rooms

      • Hotels which caters to the needs of the conference delegation

      • Conference halls are equipped with seating arrangements, food and beverage services and executive amenities like projector, etc.

    CONVENTION HOTELS

      • Convention is a formal meeting of large number of people

      • Hotel has generally more then 2000 rooms to accommodate delegates

      • Facilities: Technically updated equipment large seating arrangement, flip charts, projectors, audio-visual equipment’s

      • E.g. J. P. Palace Agra, Renaissance Mumbai

    SUITE HOTEL

      • All rooms are suites (Set of bedroom, living room, modular kitchen, attached bathroom).

      • Provide highest level of personalized service to the guest

      • Facilities:  Wifi services, Microwave, personalized stationary, in-room safety locker

    BED AND BREAKFAST HOTELS

      • Prevalent in European countries

      • Lodging facilities provided to the guest with breakfast only.

      • Operated in large family residences

      • Comprise of 20-30 guest  rooms

      • Suitable for budget traveler

    4. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF STAR

      • Star denotes the available standards and facilities in a hotel

      • Star classification is done by Department of Tourism, Government of India

      • Committee known as HRACC (Hotel & restaurant approval & classification committee)

      • Once the hotel owners send an application for the classification, committee members visit and grade the hotel

    ON THE BASIS OF STAR HOTEL CAN BE CATEGORISED AS

      • 5 STAR

      • 4 STAR

      • 3 STAR

      • 2 STAR

      • 1 STAR

    MEMBERS OF THE HRACC

      • Secretary Tourism, All State Govt./UTs

      • President of HAI

      • Secretary General of FHRAI

      • President of IHHA

      • President of TAAI

      • President, IATO

      • Principal of Regional IHM

      • HAI: Hotel Association of India

      • FHRAI: Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India

      • TAAI: Travel agent Association of India

      • IATO: Indian Association of Tour Operators

      • IHHA: Indian Heritage Hotel Association

    CHECKLIST FOR HOTEL CLASSIFICATION

      • Star category

      • Number of rooms with size

      • Attached bathroom with size

      • Details of public area with size

      • Parking facilities with no. of vehicles

      • Fire fighting measures

      • Types of services and facilities

      • Facilities for differently – abled guest

      • Eco friendly practices

      • Sewage Treatment Plant

      • Rain water harvesting

      • Waste management

      • Pollution control for air, water and light

      • Introduction of LED bulbs

    5 STAR HOTEL

      • General Features:

      • Construction should have quality of luxury hotel

      • Convenient location from important places

      • Minimum 10 lettable rooms

      • Centralized air conditioning

      • Superior quality furnishing

      • 24hr elevator service

      • Swimming pool

      • Facilities

      • Highly Professional staff

      • Conference & banquet facilities

      • Telephone service in room

      • Shopping arcade

      • Travel agents

      • Safe deposit

      • Health club

      • Mini bar

      • Waste paper basket

      • Stationary folder

      • Services

      • Multi cuisine restaurant/coffee shop, Specialty restaurant 24hr.

      • High quality F&B service

      • 24hr Reception, information desk and cashier

      • Valet parking

      • Proper room supplies

      • 24hr. Room service

      • Centralized air conditioning

      • Express laundry

    FOUR STAR HOTEL

      • General Features: same as 5 star hotel

      • Facilities:

      • 24 hr reception

      • Well qualified staff

      • Travel agent

      • Foreign Exchange

      • Safe deposit box

      • Telephone in each room

      • Services:

      • International and Indian cuisine

      • Laundry

      • Proper room supplies

      • Centralized air condition

      • 24 hr room service

      • Clean uniform

    THREE STAR HOTEL

      • General Features: same as 5 star hotel

      • Facilities:

      • Convenient location

      • 24hr hot and cold water supply

      • 50% room should be air conditioned

      • 24 hr coffee shop

      • Specialty restaurant

      • Professional staff

    TWO STAR HOTEL

      • Facilities:

      • Well furnished lounge

      • 24hr hot and cold water supply

      • Services:

      • Phone/call bell in each room

      • Adequate parking

      • Basic facilities

    ONE STAR HOTEL

      • Facilities:

      • Proper ventilation

      • Comfortable rooms

      • Clean bed and furniture

    Services:

      • Reception  with phone

      • Limited services

    HRACC GUIDELINDE-WWW.HRACC.ORG.IN

    5.CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF OWNERSHIP

      • Time share

      • Condominiums

      • Independent hotels

      • Chain hotels

      • Franchise

      • Management contract

      • Referrals

    TIMESHARE

      • This concept is also known as “vacation ownership” and “holiday ownership.”

      • In this concept  the guest purchases the ownership of accommodation for a specific period of time

      •  Usually one or two weeks a year for specific number of years and gets the right to stay and enjoy hotel facilities and services.

      • Advance purchase of time in holiday accommodation

      • This concept was developed in Europe

      • The purchaser has to pay one-time capital sum and then an annual contribution fee towards the maintenance of the property.

      • Annual fee covers:

      • Cleaning of public areas

      • Maintenance cost and related expenses

      • Concept familiar in resorts.

      • Eg. Club Mahindra Resorts, Sterling holiday and resorts

    CONDOMINIUM

      • Concept is similar to timeshare but has only one ownership instead of multiple.

      • Only one owner purchases the property for a specific period of time and pays the annual maintenance fee.

      • Owner pays monthly or annually the maintenance fees

      • Concept is almost obsolete

    INDEPENDENT HOTEL

      • These units are privately owned by an individual or a company.

      • Not affiliated with chains

      • Either family owned or an individual

      • Have no relation with other hotels for the management rules and marketing.

    Disadvantage:

      • No branding

      • Less exposure on new technologies

       Hence these hotels tie up with local travel agents for their business

    CHAIN HOTELS

      • These hotels belong to one group

      • All properties of the same chain follow the same standards, policies, procedures and architecture

    FRANCHISE

      • In this concept the owner gives the brand name to the other property.

      • Franchise owner grants rights to the other property to sells its unique products and services and use its trademark according to the guidelines

      • Example: Holiday Inn, Renaissance

      • Terms related to it:

      • FRANCHISOR – the company which owns the trademark

      • FRANCHISEE – the company or the individual to whom the franchisor confers to do business under his/her name

      • FRANCHISING – continuing relationship in which franchisor provides privileged to do business

    MANAGEMENT BY CONTRACT

      • Properties are owned by individuals but are managed by some other firm

      • A contract is entered between an owner and the hotel operator

      • They operate on the basis of management fee and sometimes gross revenue

      • Rights as per contract:

      • Owner retains legal and financial rights

      • Operator responsible for operational cost

    Example: Hilton , Park inn, starwood, sheraton

    REFERRAL

      • Independent hotels bond together for some common purpose

      • Each property in a referral system is not an exact replica of the other but are consistent in terms of services and facilities

      • Hotel in referral group refers their guest to other hotels in the group in case of unavailability of rooms

    Advantages in Referral Group-

      • Expanded advertising through pooled resources

      • Centralized purchasing systems: Reduces the load of expenses of the individual property since items are purchased in bulk.

    6.CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF LEVEL OF SERVICES

      1. World class service/Luxury/Up-market

      1. Mid range

      1. Economy/Budget

    WORLD CLASS SERVICE

      • Emphasis on luxury and excellence/class

      • Target affluent segment of the society

      • Offer world class product and personalised service

      • Provide upscale restaurants, exquisite décor, lounge, superior quality amenities, luxurious rooms.

      • Valet is assigned to each room

      • Top-end recreational facility as- golf course, tennis course, shopping arcades.

      • Ex. Raj villas in Jaipur

      • Personalised service: Giving a personal touch in the service

      • Personal working desk with a laptop

      • Luxuriously stocked mini bars

      • Bulgari/ Molten brown bathroom amenities

      • Private beach with personal umbrellas and sun beds

      • Express laundry

      • Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access

      • Health and beauty treatments(Jacuzzi & saunas)

      • Private helicopter and jet services on request

      • Air purifiers in room to check air quality (Ideal 2.5 level particulate matter)

      • Fluffy bathrobes 

      • Kids corner with baby sitting facility

      • Private chef and butler

      • Private heated swimming pool

    MID RANGE SERVICES

      • Mid scale hotels and value for  money

      • Offers modest services

      • Target business traveller groups with pickup and drop facility

      • Offers mix of luxury and comfort services

      • Offers executive services,24hr coffee shop multi speciality restaurants

      • Eg. Taj Mahal, Lucknow

    ECONOMY CLASS/BUDGET

      • These are found in budget properties providing Inexpensive rooms

      • Offers clean comfortable rooms, multi cuisine restaurants, coffee shop

      • Target budget travellers and groups (families, tour groups, vacation group, retired people)

      • Eg: Ginger hotel

    7. SUPPLEMENTARY ACCOMMODATION

      • Started by the Government of India for budget group travellers with moderate facilities and room rates

      • The objective was to increase movement of domestic tourism

      • Also Known As Alternative Accommodation

      • Sarai/ Dharamshalas

      • Dak Bungalows

      • Boarding houses

      • Youth hostel

      • Yatri niwas

      • Camping grounds

      • Paying guest

      • Railway/ Airport retiring rooms

      • Rotel

      • Floatel

    SARAI / DHARAMSHALA

      • Lodging properties found at pilgrimage places

      • Constructed by welfare trust, state organization, social organization

      • Provide basic security and sleeping facilities for a nominal fee

    DAK BUNGALOWS

      • Circuit house/ inspection bungalow /forest lodge

      • Prevalent from British raj

      • Built as rest houses for colonial officials in remote areas

      • Offer old style of hospitality and cuisine

      • Owned by state Government

    YOUTH HOSTEL

      • For youth who travel for educational, adventure or recreational reasons

      • To cater youth who could not afford high hotel rates for their stay

      • Provide dormitory accommodation with common bathing and eating facilities

    YATRI NIWAS

      • Provide low cost, self service accommodation to domestic tourists

      • Emphasize on modest comfort & facilities

      • Located at historical, cultural and natural sites

    CAMPING GROUNDS

      • Also known as Tourists camps

      • Located within cities in open spaces

      • Provide water, electricity, toilets, car parking

      • Follow rules and regulations regarding the quality of service and cost set by the municipality.

    RAILWAY/AIRPORT RETIRING ROOMS

      • Built for convenience of transit travellers

      • Located at major railways stations/airport

      • Provide resting place for transits

      • Booking is made through station superintendent

    PAYING GUEST ACCOMMODATION

      • Accommodation offered by individual household at various destination

      • Popular in large metropolitan cities for students and employed youth.

      • Accommodation is offered on nominal fee

      • Students and youth are suppose to follow rules and regulations

    ROTEL

      • Hotels on wheels

      • Provide services quite similar to hotels

      • Eg. Palace on wheels

    FLOATEL

      • These are floating hotels on water

      • Boat used as a  hotel

      • Eg. House boats, cruise

    TYPES OF ROOM

    There are various types of room:

    1. SINGLE ROOM

      • A single room has one single bed for single occupancy.

      • The size of bed is normally 3 feet by    6 feet.

      • Additional bed called as extra bed can be added on request

    2. Twin room

      • A twin room has two single beds for double occupancy.

      • The bed size is normally 3 feet by  6 feet.

      • Suitable for sharing among groups or delegates

    3. Double room

      • A double room has double bed for double occupancy.

      • The size of the double bed is generally 4.5 feet by 6 feet.

    4. Triple room

      • A triple room has three separate single beds and can be occupied by three guests.

    5. Quad room

      • A quad room has four separate single beds and can accommodate four persons together in the same room.

    6. Hollywood twin room

      • A Hollywood twin room has two single beds with a common headboard.

    7. Double-double room

      • A double-double room has two double beds and is normally preferred by a family or group as it can accommodate four persons together.

    8. King room

      • A king room has a king size bed.

      • The size of the bed is 6 feet by 6 feet.

    9. Queen room

      • A queen room has queen size bed.

      • The size of the bed is 5 feet by 6 feet

    10. Mini suite/junior suite

      • A single large room with a bed and a sitting area.

    11. Suite room

      • A combination of one or more bed rooms and a living room and a dining area.

      • Only guest who can afford high tariffs of room category

    12. Duplex/bi-level suite

      • A duplex suite comprises two rooms situated on different floor, which are connected by an internal staircase.

      • This suite is generally used by business guests who wish to use the lower level as an office and meeting place and the upper level room as a bedroom.

    13. Interconnecting room

      • Interconnected rooms have individual entrance doors from the outside and a connecting door between.

      • This allows guests to access any of the two rooms without passing through a public area.

    14. Adjoining rooms

      • Two rooms which share a common wall but is not connected by a door

      • For example- 201,202,203,204

      • Shares a common wall

    15. Adjacent room

      • An adjacent room is very close to another room perhaps across the hall or corridor from each other.

      • Example rooms 201 and 205

    16. cabana

      • A cabana is situated away from the main hotel building in the vicinity of a swimming pool or sea beach,

      •  With or without sleeping facilities, but with provision for relaxing in a sofa.

      •  These are generally used as a changing room not as a bedroom.

    17. parlour/salon

      • A parlor has a living or sitting room without bed and may have sofa and chairs for sitting.

      • A room not used as a bedroom.

    18. lanai

      • A room overlooking a landscaped area, a scenic view greenery, garden or sea beach.

      • It may have a balcony, a patio (outdoor area), or both.

      • This type of room is commonly found in resorts.

    19. Efficiency room

      • An efficiency room has an attached kitchenette for guests preferring longer duration of stay.

      • Found in Holiday resorts

    20. Hospitality room

      • A hospitality room is designed for hotel guests who would want to entertain their own guests outside their allotted rooms.

      • These rooms usually contains a bar and occasional tables as well.

      • Such rooms are generally charged on an hourly basis.

    21. Penthouse

      • A penthouse is generally located on the topmost floor of hotels and has an attached open terrace or open sky space.

      • It has very opulent décor and furnishings and is among the costliest rooms in the hotels, preferred by celebrities and major political personalities.

    22. Sico room

      • A room which has a murphy or sico bed(a pull-out, wall bed or convertible or foldaway bed)

    23. Studio room

      • A studio room has a bed and sofa-cum-bed, and is generally used as a living room.

    24. Smart room

      • A smart room refers to a hotel room equipped with advanced technology, designed to enhance guest comfort and convenience.

      • It includes automated systems for lighting, temperature control, entertainment, and more, operated via smartphones or voice commands.

      • It personalize guest experiences.

    25. Differently abled guest room

      • It is specially designed for differntly abled guest

    BASIS OF CHARGING:

    Following are the ways of charging room rate, commonly used in hotels:

      1. 24 Hour

      1. Check-in/Check-out Basis

      1. Day Basis

      1. Night Basis

    1. 24 HOUR BASIS

      • Hotel charges room rate on 24 hour basis or daily basis

      • The time at which the guest checks in becomes the check out time of the guest

      • Used by transit hotels, commercial and resorts.

      • Example:-

       If the guest  checks-in at 9.am on 15th of December and checks-out at 9.am next day on 16th of December , he will be charged one day room rent, but if the guest checks out at 1 pm on 16th of December he will be charged two days room rent

    2.CHECK -IN CHECK-OUT BASIS

    The guest checks-in at 12 noon and his day finishes at 12 noon next day

      • But most of the check outs takes place early in the morning

      • Used by commercial hotels, resorts, conference hotels etc.

      • Example:-

              If a guest checks-in at 8.am on 16th of December and checks-out at  12 pm on 17th of December he will be charged 2 day room rent

    3. NIGHT BASIS OF CHARGING

      • The guest is charged according to the number of nights spent in the hotel

      • If the guest spends one night he will be charged for one night

      • If the guest uses the room only in day then also he will be charged for full night

      • Example:-

              Motels, Dak Bungalows, Government Guest Houses use night basis of charging

    4. DAY BASIS OF CHARGING

      • Guests are charged on the day basis

      • The guest may use hotel in day time for maximum of 06 hours

      • Generally charged 50% of  room rate

      • Example:-

              Used by transit hotels, airport hotel or commercial hotels

    TYPES OF ROOM RATES

    There are various types of room rates:

    1.RACK RATE–

      • Also called Standard rates which means rates without discounts

      • Highest room rates  given to walk ins

      • Known as walk-in rates

    2.FAMILY RATES–

      • Rates offered on discount  to attract family/holiday makers

      • Provides facilities like complimentary pick/drop, inter connecting rooms or any special services to meet family needs.

      • Eg. Resorts, Residential hotels

    3.GROUP RATES–

      • Special discounted rates offered to groups giving volume business (more than 15 pax)

      • Rates are negotiated by sales team of the hotel and the representatives of the group

      • Eg. 20 rooms sold – 1 Complimentary room

    4. EXTRA BED RATES­–

      • Rates charged to the guest in case of extra bed requirement

      • ¼ of the room rent

    5.CVGR (CORPORATE VOLUME GUARANTEED RATES) –

      • Agreement between a hotel and company for room business

      • Special rates given to companies providing volume business.

      • Company books specific number of rooms in the hotel for certain months or year

      • Company confirms booking and settles the payment

      • Company is financially responsible for rooms left vacant or occupied

      • Generally 10-20% lower than rack rate

    6.PACKAGE RATES/PACKAGES–

      • Discounted rates offered during lean seasons to attract guest

      • Meeting package

      • Meal package

      • Marriage package

      • Holiday package

      • Eg.  Mahendra Resort Goa

                         3N/4Days deluxe room, MAP

                         Complimentary air pick up

                         Rs. 18,000/-         

    7.MEMBERSHIP RATES–

      • Discounted rates given to members of influential organizations

      • Much lower than rack rates and also include discounts on food and beverage

      • Special rates provided to FHRAI members

      • Eg. Mahindra club, Country club

    8.SEASONAL RATES–

      • Discounted rates offered during lean and peak seasons of the year

      • Aim is to provide business all four seasons of the year

    9. WEEKDAY – WEEKEND RATES–

      • Discounted rates given on week ends

      • Rates depend on the type of hotel

      • Resort occupancy is high on weekends with higher room rent

      • Commercial hotel occupancy is less on weekends with lower room  rent

    10. ADVANCE PURCHASE RATE –

      • Concept popular in airline industry

      • Provides heavy discounts when rooms are booked in advance

      • It ensures a certain amount of revenue at a given time

    11. DAY RATE –

      • Charged from the guest who is not staying overnight

      • Rate offered are lower than the rack rate

    12. TRAVEL AGENT RATE –

      • Provide substantial volume business to hotel and work on commission basis

      • Hotel also provides special discounts and commissions as they work vice versa

    13. VOLUME GURANTEED RATE –

      • Special rates are provided to attract the high volume of business from different market segments

      • Contractual agreement with the hotel, to provide special discounts, when they reserve a room in the hotel

    14. AIRLINES/CREW RATE –

      • Special discounted rate for crew of one or more airline that offer certain volume of business throughout the year

    15. GOVERNMENT RATE –

      • Given to government officials

      • Travel allowance along with hotel and meals

    16. EDUCATIONAL RATE –

      • Offered by hotel to students and educationists who have limited travel budget

      • They provide a large chunk of repeat business of hotel

    17. INTRODUCTORY RATE –

      • Offered by hotel on opening of new property in town

      • It is offered as a part of new hotel’s marketing strategy

    MEAL  PLANS

      • They are inclusive of meal and room package

      • The room tariff charged to the guest depends upon the choice of meal plans offered to the guest

      • Depending upon the target audience the hotels offer variety of meal plans

    TYPES OF MEAL PLANS

      1. European Plan

      1. Continental Plan

      1. Bermuda Plan / Bed and Breakfast Plan

      1. Modified American Plan/ Demi – pension /Half Board

      1. American Plan/ En-pension / All Inclusive Plan/ Full Board

    1.EUROPEAN PLAN

      • It inclued only room rent

      • Any meals consumed are charged separately to the guest

      • Plan given to FIT where guest has the flexibility to eat outside

    2.CONTINENTAL PLAN

      • It includes room  rent with continental breakfast

      • Any extra meals consumed (Lunch/Dinner) are charged separately

      • Plan given to executives or corporate who may eat breakfast and move out during the day for business purpose

    3.BERMUDA PLAN/BED AND BREAKFAST

      • It inclueds room rent and lavish English breakfast

      • Plan provided by families running small lodges at home or B&B Hotels

      • Given to FIT,  highway travellers who wishes to take

              breakfast only and try other meals outside

    4. MODIFIED AMERICAN PLAN

      • It inclueds room rent, Breakfast and any one major meal (Lunch or Dinner)

      • Given to holiday makers, GIT, leisure travellers

      • Guest needs to specify their meal at the time of reservation

    5. AMERICAN PLAN

      • It includes Room Rent, American Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

      • Given to guest on family vacation & groups

      • All three meals are included & automatically charged to the guest whether consumed or not

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