What do the hotel stars mean
The Hotelstars Union was founded in 2009 under the
patronage of HOTREC - the umbrella association of
hotels, restaurants and cafés in Europe.
Hotels in Denmark
Many of the hotels have joined the Hotel Stars Union classification in Denmark. In Denmark, they also have their national hotel classification system for members of Horestra, which is a trade association for hotels and restaurants. There are approximately 900 hotels in Denmark, and around half are classified.
In Denmark, it is stated by law that service charges and all other taxes have to be incorporated into the hotel rate. Usually, breakfast is included in the hotel rate when a hotel booking is made.
Stars in Denmark
1 hotel star
All rooms have a shower/WC or bathtub/WC
Daily room cleaning
Breakfast Bath towels and soap
Daily room cleaning
Receptions service TV and remote control
Table and chair Deposit possibility
2 hotel stars
Payment via card
Breakfast buffet
Reading light next to the bed
Internet access in the room or the public area
Linen shelves
Offer of sanitary products (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste)
Shampoo and shower gel
3 hotel stars
14-hour staffed reception
24-hour telephone reception service
Bilingual staff Luggage service on demand
Lounge suite at the reception
Beverage offer in the room
Telephone in the room
Dressing mirror
Additional pillow and blanket on demand
Hair-dryer and cleansing tissues
Adequate place or rack to put the luggage/suitcase
Sewing kit, shoe polish utensils and laundry and ironing service
Systematic complaint management system
4 hotel stars
16-hour staffed reception
24-hour telephone reception service
Breakfast buffet or breakfast menu card via room service
A hotel bar
Lobby with seats and beverage service
Bathrobe and slippers on demand
Cosmetic products (e.g. shower cap, nail file, cotton swabs)
A heating facility in the bathroom
Minibar or 16-hour room service
Upholstered chair/couch with side table
Cosmetic products (e.g. shower cap and a nail file)
5 hotel stars
24-hour staffed reception
Multilingual staff
Concierge Valet parking service
Personal care products
Spacious reception hall with several seats and beverage service
Personalised greeting for each guest with flowers or a present in the room
Minibar and food and beverage offered via a 24-hour room service
Internet-PC in the room on demand
Safe in the room Ironing service (within 1 hour) and shoe polish service
Turndown service in the evening
Hotels in Sweden
In Sweden, there is a national voluntary hotel classification system. The Responsible Authority is the Classification Committee (Klassificeringsnamnden) hosted by the Swedish Hotel and Restaurant Association (SHR). Many hotels do follow the standard from Hotelstars classification, and you can find this on their web page.
When a hotel booking is made, breakfast is typically included in the hotel rate, and all other taxes are always incorporated in the hotel rates.
Stars in Sweden
1-star hotel
Shared toilet and bath/shower equal to 10% of the rooms
Basin with hot and cold water in the rooms
Central heating
Serving breakfast
Access around the clock
2-star hotel
At least 40% of the rooms must have private toilets and bath/shower
Possibility to purchase refreshments
3-star hotel
Private bathroom in every room
Telephone and TV in every room,
Access to guest PC
Staff available during office hours
Elevator
Smoke-free rooms
4-star hotel
Restaurant serving a la carte
Minibar/ room service,
Staff available around the clock
International TV-channels
At least 50% of the rooms have Internet access
Copy machine available
Laundry service
The interior design of comfort standard
5-star hotel
Pool and/or gym with staff
Sauna and relax with the staff
Air conditioning
Internet access in every room
Safe box in room
Exclusive interior design
Suites
Hotels in Norway
In Norway, there is a national voluntary hotel classification system. Norwegian Hotel Classification manages this system, and the organisation has in 2013 joined the Hotel Star Union Classification system as many hotels in Denmark and Sweden.
When a hotel booking is made, breakfast is typically included in the hotel rate, and all other taxes are always incorporated in the hotel rates.
Stars in Norway
1-star hotel
Simple standard and often with shared bathroom
2-star hotel
Simple standard, and 50% of the rooms with own bathroom
3-star hotel
Good standard, TV, phone, own bathroom with shower and serving of meals
4-star hotel
Full-service hotel with excellent standards
A la carte dinner restaurant
Internet access
5-star hotel
A full-service luxury hotel with a la carte lunch and dinner restaurant
24-hour room service/reception service
Swimming pool, fitness centre
Suites available
The hotels in Norway with no official hotel rating or classification use the star descriptions to show the standard and services of the hotels and give the customers a rough idea of the hotel standard. The facilities and the room standard may vary depending on the geographic location.
The standard usually is higher in the larger cities than in the rural areas of southern Norway and the Arctic areas of northern Norway.
Hotels in Finland
In Finland, there is not any hotel classification system, and there is no particular authority. Since there is no official system, there are many private web pages based on customer feedback, but remember this is not objective criteria.
Usually, when a hotel booking is made, breakfast is included in the hotel rate and all taxes are incorporated in the hotel rates.
Hotels in Iceland
In Iceland, there is a national voluntary hotel classification system, and the responsible authority is the Icelandic Tourist Board. The classification is based on the classification system from the association of hotels and restaurants in Denmark (Horestra). The system comprises a star system, and the hotels have classes from 1 to 5 stars, depending on which facilities are provided.
When a hotel booking is made, breakfast is usually not included in the hotel rate, and all taxes are always incorporated in the hotel rates.
Stars in Iceland
1-star hotel
Washbasin in every room
At least one bathroom for every ten rooms
Access to public phone
Breakfast.
2-star hotel
The above plus a telephone booth
A bar or a counter where it is possible to buy light refreshments
Dining room for breakfast and other meals
3-star hotel
Room with own bathroom
Work desk, TV and radio
Access to a phone
Computer with Internet access
An elevator if the building is at least four stories high
Double rooms at least 17m2 and single rooms at least 14 m2.
4-star hotel
General interior decoration is of a high standard
Recliner in all rooms
Rooms contain a minibar
Room service 24 hours a day and TV
Phone and access to the Internet in every room
A restaurant
Laundry service
Breakfast at rooms
Elevator
Double rooms at least 20m2 and single rooms at least 16m2
5-star hotel
The above, plus a luxurious interior
Safety box in every room
Bathrobes and “turn down” service
Staffed gym or indoor swimming pool lift shop, porters, double rooms at least 26m2 and single rooms at least 18m2.
Gift shop
Porters
Double rooms at least 26m2 and single rooms at least 18m2
