Abu Dhabi is set to implement a new hotel classification system for the start of 2011, but it will stick with the five-star rating concept.
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said inspection visits would start by August and added all hotels and hotel apartments within the emirate would be classified.
Hotels are set to be categorised on a sliding scale of one star to five stars and hotel apartments will fall under deluxe, superior or standard categorisation.
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The ADTA's classification inspection team will begin its reviews of the emirate's 49 hotels and 49 hotel apartment facilities within the next two months.
"This is a major step forward in the delivery of destination integrity. It will provide much-needed consistency to tour operators selling the destination," said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, ADTA.
"The system will also provide a framework for hotel investors when designing their properties to include the necessary facilities and services to attract their desired market groups. It will also be an incentive to hotel owners and managers to upgrade their facilities."
Two years in the making, the system has been benchmarked against global well known destinations.
The ADTA will also include five value-added categories - environmental issues, special needs, comprehensive detailed standards, consideration for cultural tourism sustainability and implementation planning.
"The private sector was closely engaged throughout the entire development process and its input proved invaluable in producing a system which we believe is an industry leader," added Al Muhairi.
All hotel establishments need to earn a pre-determined score, on a scale of one to 900, to qualify for a particular classification rating.
Every star rating has a set of essential and necessary criteria that have to be met to qualify for a specific star rating.
Nasser Saif Al Reyami, director, Licensing and Classification Division, ADTA, added: "Realistically we do not expect that even five-star hotels will be able to offer all of the services and amenities in the scoring system, so it does allow hotels to offer varied products."
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