Hotel rating giants in North America

20/08/2012 USA | Canada

AAA Hotel Rating in North America

USA has been a hub for international business for quite a few decades. The industry revolution triggered the growth in the tourism sector of North America. In USA the tourism industry contributed 2.7 % of GDP and provided 5.36 million direct and 2.15 million indirect jobs. Unlike in Europe where each country has its own rating system, North America has fewer organizations that classify hotels and provide ratings.

Forbes has been classifying tourist accommodations for over 50 years. Officials search North America’s best hotels, restaurants and spas and compile their findings in The Mobil Travel Guide, launched in 1958. They have the most comprehensive check list in the industry with more than 500 standards tested at each property they visit. For example, they note how long it takes to be greeted in a hotel and served in a restaurant. To achieve five star rating hotels must have exceptional amenities and service standards. A few examples of some five stars rated properties are: Château du Sureau , The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach and Wynn Tower Suites.

The AAA (American Automobile Association)/CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) diamond rating process are two of the most famous tourist property classification systems in this region. Over 32,000 hotels throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean are AAA classified and Diamond rated, ranging from 1 Diamond (basic requirement) to 5 Diamonds (Luxury Class). AAA also provides color codes to diamond ratings e.g. Red Diamonds mark hotels that participate in the AAA logo licensing program for increased visibility to members. Black Diamonds identify all other AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels.

Besides the above, some additional organizations also provide classification to the hotels, such as Canada Select who provides star rating from 1 to 5, in ½ star increments throughout Canada.

Green Key Global is a new rating scheme that helps the hotel chains and hotel owners to follow environment friendly norms in their properties. The rating is given between 1 and 5 evaluation based on housekeeping, conference and meeting facilities, food and beverage, engineering, and environmental management. Green Key bases its evaluation on eco friendly practices like energy conservation, green area provision, waste management and water conservation. So far they have around 2,946 hotels participate in this rating system in North America.

Forbes and AAA are the dominating hotel classifiers in this part of the world and they have been rating hotels for over 50 years. Forbes on one hand classifies luxury hotels in contrast with AAA who rates a variety of tourist accommodations including hotels, motels, camps, restaurants, and more. Green Key’s eco friendly ratings concept is being well integrated into North America, but it’s far from being adhered to by the rest of the world.

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