How do hotels earn their stars? 

In order to gain recognition as a hotel an establishment must be able to be contact by (potential) guests either in person or by telephone or email at all times. Guests staying at the hotel should be able to gain access to their room at all times for the duration of their stay. Each room should have at least one bed, have natural and artificial (electric) light, heating, at least one plug socket, etc.

At least 85% of all rooms in the hotel should have their own bathroom and toilet. In a hotel bathroom should been a bath or shower with hot and cold running water, a sink with mirror, a bin, toilet paper, etc.

In Belgium an international rating system is used to determine the level of quality of a hotel. The Hotelstars Union (HSU) system is used in 20 countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden.

The number of stars given is determined based on a very long list of all kinds of facilities that may be present in a hotel. For each piece of these a hotel is awarded a certain number of points.

In order to be able to call itself a hotel, an establishment should have a room, counter or desk with sufficient privacy that can serve as a reception area. Daily cleaning of rooms and a change of towels is also a minimum. Pillows should be cleaned or replaced at least annually in all hotels. Each room should have a television with remote control or a similar device on which can be streamed using a customer's device.

For each star level, there are also a number of minimum requirements. Here are some of the basic requirements for each star level.

- Facilities for the safe storage of guests' valuables.

-  a reception desk that can be reached day and night by phone or electronically.

- The beds in its rooms should have mattresses that are at least 13 cm thick.

- A desk or table in should be provided in the rooms.

- A standard breakfast consisting of at least one hot drink (e.g. coffee or tea), fruit juice, a selection of fruit or fruit salad and the choice of different kinds of bread and bread types with butter, jam, cooked meat and cheese.

·        ... a standard breakfast that also includes cereal and eggs (boiled, scrambled,              omelette,)

·        ... in addition to a bath towel a hand towel must also be available.

·        ... mattrasses must be at least 13 cm thick.

·        ... a desk or table in the room. 

·        ... a seat per person staying in the room. If the room has sleeping facilities for             more than two people, two chairs will suffice.

·        ... a bed with a matrass that is at least 18 cm thick.

·        ... a standard breakfast that also includes cereal and eggs (boiled, scrambled,             omelette,)

·        ... a table or desk with sufficient light and access to a plug socket.

·        ... an additional plug socket next to the bed.

·        ... a waste paper basket and a mirror in the room. 

·        ... a lift, if it has more than three stories.

·        ... a lobby where guests can sit and order a drink.

·        ... fresh bed linen daily if the guest requests it. In any case the bed linen must be             changed at least twice a week.

·        ... the choice of different types of pillow.

·        ... an extensive breakfast served at the table.

• The opportunity to completely darkening the room using a shutter or full-blackout curtain.

• - ... a reception desk that is permanently open and staffed.

• - ... an extra armchair or two-seater sofa in its rooms (if they are for two or more)        and in its suites.

• - ... an in-room safe.

• - ... an in-room telephone for internal and external calls....     

- Putting national or regional specialties on their restaurant menus in the restaurant. (5 points)

- Offering meals around the clock via room service. (15 points)

- Having a hot tub or whirlpool. (3 points)

- Have a co-working space or conference room that is at least 100 m². (10 points each)