Tourism Accommodation Standards and Hotel Ratings

Tourism Accommodation and Professional Services

Tourism accommodation consists of companies providing hosting services to the public in exchange for payment. The more value delivered, the higher the price you will pay. These services are provided on a professional and regular basis, whether permanently or temporarily (e.g., closing for some months). Hotels sometimes close due to holidays or lack of profitability. These services may be provided with or without additional services such as treatments, spas, or sports.

Legal Exclusions and Contractual Factors

Not included in tourism accommodation: residences, halls, nursing homes, lodges, bungalows, campings, resorts, and apartments (according to Article of Decree 231/1965, January 14).

Regarding classification, when we stay in a hotel, we enter into a contract (welcome paper) between the establishment and the customer. This includes a series of important factors that determine the obligations of both parties:

• Type of accommodation
• Number of people staying
• Days of stay
• Purchased maintenance services
• Prices (which should be published)

Classification and Rating Systems

The general rating system includes:

1. Hotels
2. Apartments
3. Camping
4. Rural tourism

Hotel accommodation includes hotels, pensions, and fire protection standards. Motels have disappeared in most Autonomous Communities (AACC). Pensions do not always have the same stars, and guest houses exist only in Madrid.

Hotel Regulations in Madrid

The law on hotel classification was established by Royal Decree 1634/1983, June 15, establishing the classification of hotel facilities. Regulations from each Autonomous Community (AACC) have since replaced this. Specifically, Decree 159/2003 on the Regulation of Hotel Establishments in Madrid defines the following groups:

• 1st Group: Hotels (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 stars). Luxury hotels are 5 stars with special features and high-quality facilities.
• 2nd Group: Pensions and hostels (1, 2, and 3 stars).
• 3rd Group: Guest houses (no category; exists only in Madrid).

Specific Accommodation Categories

Hotels

Establishments open to the public offering tourism accommodation, with or without complementary services, featuring an entrance, elevator, stairs, and meeting the minimum technical requirements of the Decree.

Apartments

These provide adequate facilities for food storage, processing, and consumption in each housing unit. In Madrid, there are four categories.

Pensions

Tourist accommodation in rooms, with or without a dining room, that does not meet the required standards for hotels. In Madrid, there are three categories.

Hostels

Establishments having a minimum of 10 rooms and 20 places, meeting the requirements for pensions.

Guest Houses

These do not reach the standards needed to have stars.

Technical Requirements for Star Ratings

General techniques for fire protection apply to all facilities. Maximum prices must be exhibited in the reception area, and there is a list of prices for extra services in the rooms.

• 1 Star: Double room (min 12m²), single room (7m²), bath or shower (3.5m² min), heating, and elevator.
• 2 Stars: Double room (14m²), single room (7m²), bath or shower (3.5m² min), phone, heating, elevator, and a safe (outside the room).
• 3 Stars: Double room (15m² min), single room (8m²), bath or shower (4m² min), phone, heating, air conditioning in public areas, elevator, bar, and an in-room safe.
• 4 Stars: Double room (16m² min), single room (9m²), bath and shower (4.5m²), phone, heating, air conditioning in the room, elevator, bar, and an in-room safe.
• 5 Stars: Double room (17m² min), single room (10m²), same as 4 stars but with a bathroom of 5m² min.