Hotel classification: changes as of April 1, 2022!

As announced last November by Prime Minister Jean Castex, the hotel classification has undergone some changes in order to adapt to changes in the sector and innovations. Here are the main points to remember about this new classification, which came into effect on April^1st

What is the hotel classification?

In France, tourist hotels can be classified, regardless of the number of rooms the establishment has. The classification is expressed in number of stars, with 5 categories ranging from 1 to 5 stars. The number of stars is attributed according to three main criteria, firstly the quality of the facilities, then the quality of the services offered in the establishment and finally the good practices regarding the reception of disabled persons and the respect of the environment.

The classification of a hotel is a voluntary process. It is the operator who must personally apply for the classification of his establishment to Atout France. Once classified, the accommodation is checked every five years by Cofrac-accredited inspection bodies to maintain its classification. At the end of 2021, 87% of French hotels were classified.

It should also be noted that tourist hotels are not the only collective accommodations that can be classified. This concerns other structures such as vacation villages, tourist residences, residential leisure parks and campsites

Hotel classification: what will change from April^1, 2022

As announced by the authorities at the end of 2021, the hotel classification has undergone a small facelift to adapt to changes in the sector. The changes came into effect on April^1.

Initially, some obsolete criteria were simply removed. For example, the availability of a DVD player or a radio in the room, or a telephone or a peephole in the bathroom. Other criteria, however, have become more important, such as those related to sustainable development. While there were 13 in the previous classification with only 3 mandatory, there are now 27 with 13 mandatory! The new obligations include the existence of waste sorting systems, the implementation of measures to reduce the environmental impact of laundry management (e.g. reducing the frequency of change), and the implementation of at least one measure to reduce energy consumption, water consumption and waste. At a time when climate change is accelerating, the goal is for the hotels of tomorrow to be greener! To implement these environmental measures, it is now mandatory for hotel staff to participate in training on energy, water and waste management.

Digital technology is also an important part of the new classification criteria. For example, wifi access is now mandatory in all hotel categories, from 1 to 5 stars. Customers must also be able to check in electronically.

Finally, another major change in this new classification concerns the sharing of certain services and facilities between two nearby hotels. This includes, for example, the sharing of a restaurant, a swimming pool, a charging station for electric vehicles or a meeting room.

The new classification grid is available by clicking here.