Hotels - Star rating

Alfonso XIII, Seville
Alfonso XIII, Seville

hotel star system in Andalucia

Hotel star ratings in Spain, along with their criteria, vary from region to region; across Europe, they vary from country to country. In Europe, they are overseen by a EU agency. Unfortunately the rating systems, which are generall facility rather than service-based, have not kept up with the times. The number of four and five-star hotels has increased disproportionately in comparison to one and two-star hotels. While it is true that the quality of hotels has increased over recent decades, the distortion in the ratings means that they fail to serve the purpose intended: to be a guide for tourists to evaluate and compare hotels.   

In Andalucia, the hotel star-rating system is overseen by the Consejeria de Turismo (actually Consejería de Turismo, Regeneración, Justicia y Administración Local) of the Junta de Andalucia (regional government's Ministry of Tourism and Sport). A new hotel star rating system was published in May 2020 (Decree 13/2020 and 14/2021), long overdue since it had remained largely unchanged since 1984.

The 'new' or 18th May 2020 leglislation retains the one to five stars system however for hotels and aparthotels it is based on a points system from the assesment of 301 different and wide ranging criteria, rather than a list mandatory requirements for each star rating.A 1-star hotel needs 180 points up to a five-star hotel needing 650 points. There is a five year transition period in which all the hotels, aparthotels, hostals, pensions will need to carry out an assesment under the new criteria and apply for their stars under the 2020 system. The law also creates a new category 'alberges' (hostels) which can offer beds rather than rooms.

The 'old' or current (until May 2025) legislation dates back to 2004 (Decree 47/2004, published in BOJA No 42, 2 March 2004) and consists of a scale of facilities offered by an establishment, including criteria such as minimum size of room, lift, passageway, separate goods entrance, and air-conditioning. It also includes outdated specifications such telephone cubicles, with no mention of today's most essential communications service: wifi.  The 2004 Decree was slightly modified by Decree 80/2010 of 30 March 2010 and again by Decree 11th November 2016 as published in BOJA 221 17/11/2016. 

The five-star Gran Lujo category was created as part of the 2004 legislation for those hotels which are a cut above the rest of five-star establishments. They were awarded at the direction of the Consejero (Minister) for Tourism.  The 2020 legislation finally defines 57 criteria with a separate points system. In other words to be awarded a five-star GL the 5-star establishment needs an an additional 150 points from the 57 GL criteria.   Hotel Miramar in Malaga was the first hotel (and so far only) to be awarded under the new definition.

Parador de Turismo de Arcos de la Frontera was the first establisment to be upgraded on the new system. Having presented its assesment on 22 May, four days after the law was published, the Andalucia Tourism Register gave a favourable responce on 1 June 2020.  It moved from three to four star hotel. 

One problem remains however, this rating information is not available in any easily comprehensible form - it has not been translated into English, and is not distributed to tourists nor hotel guests; as such, no clear guidance is available for those wanting to book a hotel.  The new system whilst a clear immprovement, is additionally complicated in this respect for a hotel guest to know if a specific facility will be present within a given Star rating. A hotels points assesment is not a published document.

 

Five-Star GL hotels in Andalucia   (16)

Five-Star hotels in Andalucia (45)

Four-Star hotels in Andalucia  (423)

Three-Star hotels in Andalucia   (440)

Two-Star hotels in Andalucia   (441)

One-Star hotels in Andalucia  (219)

The 'new' or 18th May 2020 Star system

The 'new' or 18th May 2020 leglislation retains the one to five stars system however for hotels and aparthotels it is based on a points system from the assesment of 301 different and wide ranging criteria, rather than a list mandatory requirements for each star rating.   A 1-star hotel needs 180 points up to a five-star hotel needing 650 points. There is a five year transition period in which all the hotels, aparthotels, hostals, pensions will need to carry out an assesment under the new criteria and apply for their stars under the 2020 system. The law also creates a new category 'alberges' (hostels) which can offer beds for sale rather than rooms.

Here is a link to the 13/2020 decree pdf in Spanish. Hotels have five years to apply for a star under the 2020 criteria.

The 'old' or 2004 Star system

The star rating system is more of a structural design and facility management rating than a level service rating. The items in the list below are very black and white. It is not a good indication of the level of service or the welcome a guest might expect to receive. This is most true in the smaller or boutique hotels which pride themselves in high level of service and welcome but are only rated with one or two stars.   

Here is an overview as to current the requirements of hotels in Andalucia. Hotels have five years to apply for a 'new' star under the 2020 criteria.
Apart-Hotels, Hostals, Casas Rurales (rural accommodation) and Villa and Apartment Rentals have a different rating system. 

Five Star Hotels
Hotel staff must have a separate entrance from guests.
Corridors must be 1.75 m wide.
There must be a separate service staircase.
Staircase must be 1.50 m wide.
Minimum double bedroom room size is 17 m2.
Minimum bedroom height is 2.7 m.
Double bed size 1.90m by 1.50 m.
Double bedroom bathrooms must have bath and shower and double washbasin.
Bathroom size 5 m2.
Length of bath at least  1.7 m.  
Must have a dining room and a café or bar.
Must have a cloak room.
Must have a staff member per floor.
Must have a luggage storage room.
Parking for min 50% of guests.
Must have air-conditioning in bedrooms.
Must have air-conditioning in public rooms.
Must be a telephone in the bathroom.
Must be internet in bedrooms and public rooms.
Reception must be attended 24 hours.
Must provide luggage service.
There must be a hotel doorman.
Must provide 24 hour room service.
Must have a bar.
Must have a dining room.
Must offer breakfast as room service.
Must offer laundry service.
Must have a free safe (strong box) in every room for  valuables.
Must have a 24 hour maintenance service.

Four Star hotels
Corridors must be 1.60 m wide.
There must be a separate service staircase.
Staircase must be 1.40 m wide.
Minimum double bedroom room size is 16 m2.
Minimum bedroom height is 2.6 m.
Double bed size 1.90m by 1.50 m.
Bathroom size 4.5 m2.
Length of bath at least 1.6 m.  
Must have a dining room and a café or bar.
Parking for min 30% of guests.
Must have air-conditioning in bedrooms.
Must have air-conditioning in public rooms.
Must be internet in bedrooms and public rooms.
Reception must be attended 24 hours.
Must provide luggage service when requested.
Must provide room service as stated in hotel literature.
Must have a bar.
Must have a dining room.
Must offer laundry service.
Must have a free safe (strong box) in every room for  valuables.
Must have a 24 hour maintenance service.

Three star hotels
Corridors must be 1.50m wide.
There must be a separate service staircase.
Staircase must be 1.30m wide.
Minimum double bedroom room size is 15m2.
Minimum bedroom height is 2.5m.
Double bed size 1.90m by 1.35m.
Bathroom size 4m2.
Length of bath at least  1.6m  
Must have a dining room and a café or bar.
Must have air-conditioning in public rooms.
Must be internet in public rooms.
Reception attended 24 hours.
Provide room service as stated.
Must have a bar
Must have a dining room.
Must offer laundry service.
 

Two star hotels
Corridors must be 1.30m wide.
Staircase must be 1.20m wide.
Minimum double bedroom room size is 14m2.  
Minimum bedroom height is 2.5m.
Double bed size 1.90m by 1.50m.
Bathroom size 3.5m2.
Reception attended up to 20.00hrs and after that a person on call.
Must offer laundry service.
 

One star hotels

Corridors must be 1.20m wide.
Staircase must be 1.20m wide.
Minimum double bedroom room size is 12m2.  
Minimum bedroom height is 2.5m.
Double bed size 1.90m by 1.50m.
Bathroom size 3.5m2.
Reception attended up to 20.00hrs and after that a person on call.

General  definitions and requirements for all hotels in Andalucia
A suite must be two double bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom and a lounge.
A junior suite has a double bedroom, with en-suite bathroom and a separate or joined lounge.
Rooms called 'with balcony' must have min width of balcony 1.30m.
All rooms with en-siute baño (bathrooms) must have a bath, a washbasin, a toilet and a bidet (or equivalent).
All rooms with en-suite aseo (toilet) must have a shower unit, a washbasin, and a toilet.
All bathrooms and toilets mush have hot and cold running water.
Must have a public lounge room.
Must have a luggage storage room.
If hotel has a 'garage' this must be connected to hotel or within 100m.
Rural, Beach and Roadside hotels (but not City hotels) may have controlled parking instead of a garage.
Must provide a telephone in bedrooms and public rooms.
Restaurants must be open three hours for breakfast and two and a half hours for lunch.   
Must have a first aid kit.
Must offer a free hotel safe (strong box) service for valuables. 

Hotels by Star rating

 
Hotel tags