According to 'Deutsche Welle', a unified nationwide hotel categorization system came into effect in 1996, when members of the DEHOGA association agreed on a joint list of criteria according to which 'stars' are awarded. To evaluate a hotel, you don't need to be an expert. The 23-page catalog, compiled in the form of a table, is so simple that almost any tourist can tick the boxes and then calculate the total.
Each hotel itself decides whether it wants to participate in the DEHOGA system, and also decides to terminate membership in the program. The only requirement for applying for categorization: the hotel must have at least eight beds. Currently, 7,601 German hotels participate in the system. Hotel 'stars' are awarded annually.
It should be noted that there are no common international standards for categorization and, as experts point out, it is very difficult to create them, and almost impossible to control compliance. Each country, including those in Europe, sets its own requirements and adheres to its own classification system. National characteristics are taken into account - climatic, economic, cultural, legal, and social.
For example, in Greece, hotels must be equipped with air conditioners and rooms must have bathtubs. The Austrian rules say nothing about this. In turn, in Austria, five-star hotels are required to have a collection of expensive wines in the cellar, while in the UK they don't even think about it.
Moreover, in Germany, for example, as well as in France, Austria, or Sweden, hotels are not required to participate in the 'star' system. In Denmark, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands, the law mandates compulsory membership in a control system. In a number of countries, supervisory functions are performed by government agencies.
In addition, top-category hotels in Germany are required to participate in a system of regular anonymous inspections, when their guests become 'mystery guests' checking the service, atmosphere, and diligence of staff incognito. In the catalog they are listed as item 252: Mystery men checks. In principle, even a one-star hotel can agree to inspections by 'unknown guests', but for a five-star hotel these inspections are mandatory. On the 'scales' that then determine the category, this brings as many as 15 points. For comparison: an indoor pool in a hotel or the presence of individually adjustable air conditioners in all rooms 'weighs' exactly the same.
In Germany, as throughout the world, a five-star classification system for hotels is adopted:
* - tourist
** - standard
*** - comfortable
**** - first class
***** - highest category (luxury)
Most hotels have three stars – 4,487. The fewest have one – 108. The number of five-star hotels is 143, and four-star hotels – 1,863. Two stars are held by a thousand hotels.
Most five-star hotels are located in Bavaria – 27. In the German capital Berlin, there are only 15. There is also one federal state with no luxury hotel at all – Saarland, and even the total number of hotels there is only 32.
Often in the hotel category you can find the 'add-on' Superior. It is given to the best hotels in their category, which by number of points formally qualify for a higher rating, but do not meet one or more of the mandatory criteria for it. For example, they do not have a 24-hour laundry or room service breakfast.
In some travel agencies you can sometimes hear: they say the hotel deserves five stars, but it has no pool, and this is a mandatory requirement... This information does not correspond to reality, at least in Germany. A sauna, a pool, a beauty salon, and babysitting services are not mandatory attributes of a luxury hotel, although many do have all of these.
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