Hotel Apartment Classification Committee puts finishing touch to rating system

Representatives of hotel apartments and experts in Abu Dhabi's hospitality industry attended the meeting, during which the committee reviewed the last part of the conditions and the prerequisites which must be met by any hotel apartment that needs ADTA's ranking and recognition.

Presentation was made of the special training programmes underwent by staff of the ADTA licensing and classification section. The attendants were also given a bout of briefing on the electronic nature of the licensing and classification system, and its unique features, including its link network which saves time and seeks to consolidate the concept of electronic interaction among clients and to boost transparency in the presentation of inspection reports attached to digital photographs.

The Committee also discussed the timetable for holding workshops during which participants can interact with each other and share experience on all activities related to hotel apartment.

The committee will hold another meeting by the end of the month to discuss the best way to formally launch the new rating system next month and to draw a plan of action for the period that follows the launching of the system.

Members of the committee expressed satisfaction about what had been achieved so far, including the result of the questionnaires distributed to them to enable each and every member to express his/her opinion about the prospects of the new system and the impact it is going to have on the quality of the targeted product.

Commenting on the system, Nasir Al Ryami, Director of ADTA's Licensing and Classification Section, said the system would add a lot to Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector. He based his assertion on the fact that the system is based on clearly outlined standards and specifications which are in practice worldwide. "This move is being boosted by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's policy of improving the quality of tourism product and providing incentives to other related sectors," he said, adding that the significance of this work lies in the great expansion the Abu Dhabi tourism sector is currently witnessing.

Al Ryami added that the Committee, during the course of drawing the system, had taken into serious consideration Abu Dhabi's competitive position among other tourist destinations in the world and the need for the system to reflect the high standards of Abu Dhabi's tourism sector.

Mohammed Yusuf, Head of the Licensing and Classification Sector, noted that the launching of the system is coming at a time when investment in the hotel apartment sector was witnessing an unprecedented rise due to the high revenue and dividend such a venture yields. He said Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector had witnessed in recent years a significant increase in the number of hotels, adding that hotel apartments in Abu Dhabi would be forced to comply strictly with laid-down classification standards which include providing first class tourism services that meet the aspiration of the Abu Dhabi tourism sector.