A number of hotels in Abu Dhabi are claiming they have more stars than were awarded to them under Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s (ADTA) strict star rating system introduced last September. The new system is meant to increase standards at hotels in the capital and provide tourists with a consistent guide. Before the system was in place, hotels effectively determined their own ratings.
Abu Dhabi spent about two years developing the strict new star rating system in support of its goal to increase visitor numbers and attract more high spending tourists. Hotels are required to clearly display their ADTA rating on plaques at their entrances. However, the Howard Johnson Diplomat Hotel on Khalifa Street displays its two star plaque given by the ADTA tourism authority, but its promotional leaflets describe it as “four-star” deluxe”. A member of the hotel reservations team, when asked about the discrepancy, explained the hotel is being refurbished to upgrade it to a four star rating.
