Honduran hotels will soon be classified according
to international standards now that public bidding has closed
and the Tourism Ministry has designated a private company
to carry out the classification process. The new rating system
is aimed at encouraging the private sector to place a greater
focus on tourism in Honduras.
The project, which was presented in April to the private
tourism sector, will be carried out by the Freeman Group,
a firm with years of experience in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The country’s hotels will be evaluated in terms of
the quality of their services and infrastructure, and then
compared against international standards. The system will
not only give visitors access to criteria by which to pre-select
their lodging establishments, it is also aimed at encouraging
the country’s hotels to make improvements, thereby bettering
the lodging experience nationwide.
The classification tool, which is used internationally, evaluates
infrastructure and services in a way that is flexible, dynamic
and continually adjusted as the market responds to changes
in trends and demands. The advantages of the system include:
increased recognition of classified hotels, especially with
regards to immediately competitive markets; increased reliability,
security and quality of available products and services; national
and international credibility and recognition; increased profits;
more efficient services; and greater stability and order in
the country’s hotel sector.
Once complete, the classifications will be endorsed by the
Tourism Ministry. They are not intended to alter the rates
and services offered by individual hotels.