What you should know about hotel rankings

In 2023, 16,611 hotels won the most brilliant distinction from Atout France: the stars! Created in the 1930s, the classification system for hotel establishments has continued to evolve. Like 86% of your colleagues, are you considering obtaining or renewing your ranking? In this article, GetWelcom has compiled the main information you need to remember to shine in the hotel constellation. ✨🚀

What is the purpose of hotel classification?

In mainland France, only 24% of hotel establishments are not classified, according to The latest INSEE study. This figure is quite low compared to other European countries where the approach is also voluntary.

However, no hotelier is unaware that the number of stars is becoming less and less important in the choice of accommodation. Hotel customers staying in France would be 16% to take into account the stars in 2022 - and this is secondary. 74% would even think that the classification would be moderately or not at all credible (source: Coach Omnium investigation carried out between 2017 and 2022 with French and foreign customers).

So what are the reasons why hoteliers invest in this costly, time-limited and, apparently, low-impact process? 🤔

🔄 Be part of a continuous improvement process

The classification grid is used as a basis for working out the expectations of customers and modernizing the hotel's facilities. On-site control is a powerful tool to encourage the team to maintain a quality of service.

🌟 Show your difference

Just by looking at the category on the “H” sign, the traveller quickly realizes that they won't get the same level of service. This distinction allows them to have realistic expectations, thus reducing the risk of disappointments and negative opinions.

🤝 Reassure your customers

Even though travelers look at photos and reviews first before choosing accommodations, this quality marker adds a dose of seriousness. It can become the icing on the cake to make tourists lean in favor of one establishment over another.

👁️ Give more visibility to your establishment

Many distributors, such as travel agencies and tourist offices, prefer partnerships with classified hotels. Depending on your commercial strategy, ranking can open doors to new collaborations.

🇫🇷 Participate in making the French destination more attractive

Although there are no European or international classification standards, the French standard provides guidelines for tourists. It reinforces the credibility of the tourist offer in the eyes of foreign travelers and contributes to giving a good image of the country.

How does the hotel ranking grid work?

The 2009 Law on the Development and Modernization of Tourism Services marked a major turning point in the process of classifying accommodations. It made it possible to entrust this mission to an economic interest group that you know under the name ofAtout France. Since then, it has regularly brought together representatives of professionals in the sector (UMIH, GNC, GNI) to update the ranking criteria.

In summary, you must check the 44 points of the 10 mandatory non-compensable criteria (ONC). You will then have to collect 100% of the mandatory points (or 95% if they are offset by optional points) and a percentage of “à la carte” points that varies according to the number of stars to be achieved.

💡 Atout France has provided hoteliers with an online self-diagnosis tool. The self-diagnosis is chargeable (50€ in 2024), because it allows access to the result of the evaluation (= the number of stars), while the pre-diagnosis is free, because it does not give a result...

⏩ Download the texts and reference documents on the Atout France website

How to get as many stars as possible for your hotel establishment?

The last ranking grid came into effect in 2022. The culmination: sustainable development, accessibility and uses related to digital technology. For you, GetWelcom has gone through the repository and found 5 actions to implement to easily earn points.

⏩ How do you take action? GetWelcom has developed turnkey digital solutions (room directory, automated emails, calls to the reception, online check-in, room service, upselling). Get a free demo by making an appointment with one of our advisors!

‍