Tourism Ministry Develops Hotel Rating System

The consortium was selected through a public bid offered under the title “Design and Systems Application of Hotel Classification,” on offer for $381,353.00, part of which was provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and another part, US$150,000.00, by the National Fund for Competition (FONDEC) at an annual interest rate of 12%.

Out of a total of 13 international companies interested in the project, five well-known firms presented bids: THR, Diamond Hospitality, the Pringman Group, ECA and the Institute for Quality. These last two joined their presentation and offered the winning proposal, becoming the consortium to meet the requirements laid out by the bid and the IDB.

SECTUR and the National Council for Competition (CNC) and the National Association of Hotel and Restaurants (ASONAHORES) participated in this process.

Radhamés Martínez Aponte, undersecretary of SECTUR who represented the organization in this bid, explained that they will initially evaluate and classify 150 hotels in Santo Domingo, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Romana-Bayahíbe, Punta Cana-Bávaro, Samaná, Puerto Plata, Río San Juan and Santiago.

Martínez added that the contract will go into effect on March 24. From this date forward the Spanish company will have a period of 250 days in which to present the corresponding classification of these hotels.

The system will not only consider infrastructure and services offered, Mr. Martínez said, but also other vital aspects of the hotels such as environmental sustainability and the defense of consumers’ rights, criteria that will be jointly put into effect in the private sector.

President of ASONAHORES Luis López, predicted that, once put into effect, the initiative will noticeably contribute to the improvement of the hotel sector within the tourism market. He pointed out that the consortium selected by the authorities will have the support of the private sector in this project.

Mr. López of ASONAHORES, Arturo Villanueva, under-secretary for training at SECTUR, Iris Pérez and Julián Cruz representing Fondec were present at the signing ceremony of the agreement.

In accordance with the National Law of Tourism, SECTUR is the state institution in charge of classifying hotels, restaurants and other any such establishments or businesses.

Laura Verdejo Casares, representative of ECA-Institute for Quality; Félix Jiménez, Minister of Tourism; and Luis López, president of ASONAHORES.

Laura Verdejo Casares and Félix Jiménez as they sign the agreement to begin the Hotel Classification. Luis López of ASONAHORES watches them.