Regional governments, PHRI to rate hotels

Regional governments, PHRI to rate hotels

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The central government has issued a new decree which transfers
its decades long authority to assess and rate hotels to regional
governments and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association
(PHRI).

R. Sarwono, deputy for Tourism Development at the Ministry of
Tourism and Culture said that in the past, approval for hotel
classification had been the sole authority of the central
government.

Under the new decree, hotel classification or rating would be
jointly issued by regional governments and PHRI.

"PHRI will issue certificates which will be approved by the
governor. PHRI and regional government would share authority,"
Sarwono told the Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The new decree will take effect next month.

Representatives from hotel customers would also be involved in
the assessment to maintain objectivity, Sarwono said.

"PHRI will arrange a mystery guest on the assessment," he
said.

The hotel assessment, Sarwono said, would cover basic
requirements such as hotel permits, building permits and
supporting facilities. It would also cover operational
requirement such as services and management.

Those who did not meet requirements according to their
classification would be given time to complete improvements.

Sarwono said that the new system would have a positive impact
on the hotel industry as hotel managers would be forced to be
more professional and responsible for their products.

"Those who can offer better services will be able to win more
customers," he remarked.

Yanti Sukamdani Hardjoprakoso, chairwomen of PHRI said that
the coming hotel assessment would focus more on services and
management, not only the physical aspects.

Yanti said that with the new system hotel classification would
be better because assessments were conducted by professional
institutions.

At present, hotels are classified into five rating categories:
five stars, four stars, three stars, two stars and one star
according to facilities and services they offer.