Finally government has provided money for the hotel classification, a stamp of quality that consumers will rely on. The framework allows the award of one to five stars based on the quality of services and amenities provided. In this case Five Star will denote top of the range. “Times are gone for individual hotel owners to declare their facility a star of their preference,” said the acting director Ministry of Tourism Grace Akullo Mbabazi. “The country has a lot of to benefit from this hospitality service providers grading. Worldwide hotels are classified in some way.” This was revealed during a refresher workshop of 15 graders at the Uganda Museum, this week, before they embark on the exercise in Kampala and Entebbe for a start. “Once in place, the cheating of tourists by hotel owners will be no more,” stressed Akullo. “With information on our website, Uganda will ably compete with its neighboring countries in the East Africa Community (EAC) where accommodation facilities have been classified.” That way the EAC will be able come up with standard charges added Akullo. This comes long after hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in 2007, when grading was first proposed. The facilitator Blandina Nshakira who has been instrumental in training of trainers in Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania said, “Grading is long overdue if the region is to attract and satisfy tourist from UK, USA, China and Saudi Arabia. They have sophisticated tastes.” However as the grading takes off, there have been careless whispers of resource shortage and lack of equipment. The team of 15 assessors have only two cameras and are destined to be availed sh100, 000 for every day and sh12000 night allowance they spend doing the exercise. Some complainants, on terms of anonymity, revealed that they come from as far as Jinja and Entebbe. “You cannot get decent accommodation with a total upkeep of sh100000,” one voiced her views. “Will this not compromise our decision while in the field where a meal goes for sh30,000 and bedding costs $200.” Talking to members of Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) was a revelation that most of them determine what they charge in comparison to rates of rival service providers. “I have never sat down to calculate how much I spend to make a resident comfortable for a night in my hotels,” confided Boniface Byamukama. “But all I know is that the charge comprises of bed, dinner and breakfast.” However, hotel classification across the world is not similar. According to Nshakira star rating systems can vary from global region to another or from country to country. In a new development, the four-star ceiling of old has given way in some places to a five-star rating. And lately this has been over taken by six- and seven-star ratings for hotels in Europe and the United Arab Emirates. “Much as Serena Hotel or Sheraton Hotel may be rated as five star or more,” paused Nshakira for the point to drive home. “They will have to undergo our checks and meet our desired standards to be operational in the region.” “There are guidelines for Home stay service providers, Restaurants, Guest Houses, Hostels and Camping Caravan sites.” Adding that, “Our EAC classification covers physical and tangible characteristics of accommodation. These comprise; location, dimension of rooms, supplies in the bathrooms, frequency of change of linen and elegance.” There is a strict criterion of requirements for Hotels, Guest Houses, Self Catering, Back Parkers and Home Stay service providers before submitting an application for grading. The location of the establishment should suitable. Its entrance must be easily accessible for delivery and by the clients besides being built in accordance to the laws. The facility ought to have at least ten beds rooms. Its corridors and stair cases must be spacious. They ought to have a good number of bell boys should be available for 18 hours per day. The above and consumer feedback on social media will be considered while being graded. A random tour of hotels in Uganda was a revelation of many establishments operating without most of the requirements in the guidelines.
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