- Organizations often rate hotels within the first few days following a trip to the hotel and encourage travelers to do the same thing. The review and rating should be done within the first week after the trip ends, while the experience is still fresh in their mind. This reduces the chance of rating a hotel higher because the details of the trip aren't as recent and reduces the chances of rating it lower as your mind begins remembering things differently.
- The star system is the most popular way of rating a hotel and usually follows a one to five star rating, with five-star hotels being the best. The rating includes not just the hotel, but also the room and the staff as well as the service provided. A five-star hotel, for example, has a knowledgeable and friendly staff with different on-site services such as room service, restaurants, a spa and shops. Both Mobil and AAA rate hotels using these guidelines.
- Keep in mind that hotels might only lose stars in a rating because it doesn't provide as many services as the rater expects. A three-star hotel for example might be as clean, with the same number of employees as a five-star hotel, but not have on-site amenities, even though those are available just a short drive from the hotel. It's also important to note that raters use different types of guidelines, which means that while one rater gives a hotel three stars, another rater might give it only one.
- Professional organizations rate hotels by using a service evaluation that covers the entire process of renting a hotel room from the moment the rater makes a reservation. The rater's identity is kept secret from the hotel as not to influence the employees and make their stay better than the normal traveler. The rater looks at all facets of the hotel, including the way the staff treats guests, the services provided, the cleanliness of the hotel and the amenities at the hotel.
- The future of hotel rating guidelines is leaning more toward technology. Raters are now using websites and the Internet as a way of voicing their opinions and offering a less professional review. At the same time, professional organizations are putting more of a focus on technology in terms of what the hotel offers for guests. Raters now expect highly rated hotels to provide high definition flat-screen televisions, MP3 connectivity and wireless Internet service. As technology continues to grow, hotels will need to keep up with the changes to hold onto their ratings.
