Norway to introduce hotel ratings

Commissioned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Norwegian Hospitality Association has drawn up a proposal for a voluntary, nationwide quality assurance system for businesses providing overnight accommodations in Norway. The purpose of the star-ratings scheme is to ensure that consumers receive the quality they expect when staying at a hotel.

“I believe that introducing this star system will make it easier to be a hotel guest in Norway,” said Dag Terje Andersen, Minister of Trade and Industry.
The report on the quality assurance system was presented today to Mr Andersen at the Bristol Hotell.

The goal of devising a quality assurance system was to develop a ratings scheme that both consumers and the industry could support – one which could serve as an example for refining existing schemes in other countries as well.

“This Norwegian scheme is distinct from other such ratings systems in that it also considers crucial factors such as level of service and maintenance, functionality and the environment,” added Knut Almquist, CEO of the Norwegian Hospitality Association (NHO Reiseliv). “The experience of the guest is the key point in evaluating individual businesses providing overnight accommodations. This is new – and shows Norway leading the way.”

The panel members who prepared the proposal represented hotels both large and small, consumer protection, employee interests and Innovation Norway. The result of four months’ efforts, the proposal utilised Det norske Veritas to carry out technical development and testing of the scheme.

“This is a major lift for the travel and tourism industry,” said Mr Andersen, “in line with the Soria Moria Declaration and our national travel and tourism strategy.” The Minister felt the scheme would make Norway’s travel and tourism industry more competitive by promoting innovation and a focus on guest experience at hotels. “I am also very glad to see that the compassionate qualities have also been taken into account, and that factors such as employee skills are reflected in the ratings scheme.”

The proposal calls for establishing a limited company jointly owned by the Norwegian Hospitality Association, Innovation Norway and private-sector trade union Fellesforbundet.

The projected date for introducing the scheme is by 01 January 2010.

The following representatives comprised the panel: Knut Almquist, leader (Norwegian Hospitality Association), Christian Gartmann / Tarje Hellebust (Rezidor), Pål Semb-Johansson / Ole Jacob Wold (Rica Hotels), Marianne Wang Polden (Thon Hotels), Geir Lundkvist (Scandic Hotels), Roar Øien (Welle Gruppen), Hans E. Utne (Hotel Ullensvang), Simen Haare (First Hotels), Per-Arne Tuftin / Audun Pettersen (Innovation Norway), Tor Sannerud (Visit Oslo), Erik Lund-Isaksen (Consumer Council of Norway), Jens Petter Hagen / Clas Delph (Fellesforbundet), Elisabeth Heyerdahl-Jensen / Per Ødegaard (BiT Reiseliv).