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What�s the Difference? |
E-mail: [email protected] |
by Harry Nobles & Cheryl Griggs - November 2004
Mobil has just released its Five Star hotel ratings for 2005; AAA promptly followed with its 2005 Five Diamond nominations. What is the difference between a Mobil Five Star rating and the AAA Five Diamond award? The more pertinent question might be �Is there a difference?�. There are some differences and also some similarities. Both lists represent the absolute ultimate in hotel physical facilities, service, and atmosphere. Another shared attribute is price; Five Star and Five Diamond hotels are among the world�s most expensive accommodations. Room rates often exceed $500.00 a night; food, beverages, and other charges are equally costly. After all, these are not �overnight stops�; rather they are destinations for well heeled pleasure seekers and/or business travelers on a generous expense account. Both organizations base the ultimate rating on an unscheduled and anonymous overnight experience and detailed evaluation of the property. AAA�s inspection staff is comprised of approximately 60 full-time �Tourism Editors� who inspect and rate all AAA approved lodgings. The Mobil Five Star decision makers are a much smaller group and tend to focus on current Five Star recipients and those with aspirations and potential for the top rating, while a field staff visits and inspects the lower rated properties. The number of Five Star and Five Diamond rated hotels caught our attention; Mobil awarded the top rating to 31 of approximately 9000 lodgings in the U.S. and Canada. AAA evaluated more than 31,000 hotels and rated 85 at the Five Diamond level. Of the 85 Five Diamond hotels, Mobil awarded the Five Star rating to 28. AAA gave the Five Diamond rating to 24 of the 31 Mobil Five Star hotels. What do these statistics tell us about the two rating organizations? We can see that despite some differences in methodology and philosophy, the final results are quite similar. Is one award better than the other? We think not; both awards recognize the best lodgings in North America and both are prestigious, prized by the industry, and trusted by the traveling public. Neither system is perfect, but they are credible. |
Harry Nobles Hospitality Consulting
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