It’s been 6 months we didn’t talk much about the new hotel standards and mostly we haven’t done an inventory of the number of hotels who transferred to the new standards.
Last June, 234 Parisian hotel had been rated with the new norms. Today, in December 2011, the number is up to 330 hotels… meaning only 100 hotels more. It is starting to feel mysterious when we know that from July 2012, hotels won’t be able to communicate their rating from the old standards, meaning today 1200 hotels virtually have no rating if we were next July, July the 23rd 2012 precisely. Today, there are 3 one-star hotels, 26 two-star hotels, 175 three-star hotels, 101 four-star hotels and 25 five-star hotels with the official new standards rating.
These new standards may need, depending on the location and the condition of the hotel, some investments as far as equipment. The modest rating hotels with low prices might have a hard time getting there; it is still very strange to see there is almost the same number of 5 star hotels than 1 or 2 star hotels with the new standards (knowing that there are way more 1 and 2 star hotels in Paris). Sure, we must compare what can be compared, as the stake is not the same for a former 4 star hotel (as the 5 star rating is new) to be rated 5 stars or for a 1 or 2 star hotel to stay with the same rating and just have it approved with the new standards ; moreover the new and long-expected 5 star rating probably created the interest of some hotels. But we can sensibly ask ourselves if next July, many 2 (and less) star hotels won’t just take the octagonal sign off their facade and leave an empty spot right there ; either by obligation because of the pressure of this new rating or by choice like some hotels are starting start doing it.
