From Latvian National to Baltic Nordic Hotel Classification System

1
From Latvian National - to Baltic NordicHotel
Classification System 

• Edvins Buka
• Director of the Hotels and Restaurants Centre
• Tallinn, 14th of November, 2007

2
Description of Latvian hotel classification system

• An accommodation grading scheme reflecting
  international standards was established in the
  mid 1990s
• Tourism services have been classified on a
  voluntary basis according to the requirements of
  Latvian national standards designed by LVRA
  specialists
• 34 general classification requirements

3

• 113 star classification requirements
• Criteria are objective with some subjective
  elements
• Not only for LVRA members
• Hoteliers pay a yearly surveillance fee of
  approx. 150- 430 Euro
• Controls are carried out every year
• Classification certificate issued for 5 years.

4
Since 1999 the Technical Committee for
Standardisation of Tourism Services devised the
following tourist accommodation standards, which
were then approved by the state Latvian Standard
company

• Accomodation type Standard
• Hotels LVS 200-1 A12004
• Guest houses LVS 200-2 A12004
• Motels LVS 200-3 A12004
• Rural tourism houses LVS 200-42000
• Camping and caravan sites LVS 200-52000
• Youth hostels LVS 200-62000

5
The standards envisage 1 - 5 star classification
requirements for hotels, including spa hotels, I
- IV category classification requirements for
guest-houses and motels, I III category for
campsites and youth hostels. A hotel is defined
as accommodation with at least 10 rooms. A spa
hotel should offer at least two certified health
treatment, rehabilitation or recreation
services.Guest house and motel accommodation
with at least 5 rooms.
6
The common requirements for all categories of
hotels 

• all hotels have at least 10 rooms
• conformity to the building standards and fire
  resistance regulations
• the hotel façade, interior and furniture are in
  good physical condition and aesthetically
  appealing the entrance to the hotel and hotel
  signs are externally lit during hours of
  darkness
• hotel meets the requirements of disabled persons
  (access, bedrooms, toilets, parking space etc.)
  the ceiling height of public areas not less
  than 3 m 2,5 m for existing and renovated for
  bedrooms respective 2,5 and 2,4 m

7

• information on fire safety procedures and
  evacuation plan in every guest bedroom
• evacuation routes are displayed in all floors of
  the hotel
• approach vehicular access
• price list displayed in a visible location
• curtains and blinds must exclude light and
  ensure privacy
• general information on the hotel and available
  services and their charges
• staff in contact with guests wear uniforms and
  name badges.
• insurance requirements.

8
Additional requirements for

• 1 hotel
• manned reception desk during day hours
• 1 lift if more than 4 floors
• minimum room floor area 8m2 single room, 13m2 -
  double room
• bedclothes are changed after three days of stay
• minimum size of single bed 90x190, double bed
  140x190 cm.
• if shower and toilet in the room, area at least
  3,3m2, if not, wash-hand basin in each room
• breakfast room.

9
2 hotel

• 1 lift , if more than 3 floors
• not less than 75 of rooms with private bath /
  shower and toilet available, wash-hand basin in
  the remainder
• floor area of shower room and toilet inside - at
  least 3,3 m2
• minimum room floor area (without toilet
  facilities) single- 8m 2 double 13 m2
• safety grab bar and non-slip mat or floor
  covering in shower/bath
• size of beds- single 90x190 double 140x190
• breakfast room or cafeteria
• amount of seats in breakfast room or cafeteria is
  more then 1/3 as bed places in hotel 
• continental breakfast is served in breakfast
  room 

10
3 hotel

• 2 lifts or more , if more than 3 floors
• equipped conference hall
• all rooms with shower and toilet
• minimum room floor area 10m2 single room, 15m2
  - double room
• size of beds- single 90x190 double 140x190
• breakfast room or cafeteria and restaurant
• amount of seats in breakfast hall and restaurant
  is more then 1/3 as bed places in hotel  

11

• breakfast menu - buffet style or continental
  breakfast
• lunch and dinner is served in restaurant
• towels of two different sizes for each guest
• floor area of shower/bathroom and toilet inside -
  at least 3,8 m2
• a folder containing information on hotel services
  and booklets on the city or town is on hand in
  the rooms
• separate public toilets for men and women
• a safe deposit box is available at the reception
  for the safekeeping of money and valuables of
  guests
• a car park is available .

12
4 hotel

• 2 lifts or more, if more than 2 floors
• separate service elevator
• minimum room floor area (without bathroom)
  12m2 single room, 17m2 - double room, at least
  one apartment two room 40m2 three room
  55m2
• minimum size of single bed 100x200 cm, double
  bed 140x200 cm in newly constructed hotel
  double bed size 160 x 210 cm
• minibar in all rooms
• individual safe deposit boxes minimum in 25
  rooms

13

• bathroom with toilet floor area - at least 3,8
  m2
• different type conference hall with necessary
  technical equipment and catering facilities
• breakfast room or cafeteria, bar, restaurant,
  banqueting halls
• breakfast menu - buffet style table with hot
  dishes or a la carte menu
• lunch and dinner is served in restaurant
• amount of seats in breakfast hall and restaurant
  is more then 1/2 as bed places in hotel 
• ballroom or night club if more than 100 rooms
• hairdresser if more than 100 rooms.

14
5 hotel

• 2 lifts or more, if more than 1 floor
• several conference halls with catering
  possibilities
• minimum room floor area ( bathroom not included )
  13m2 single room, 18m2- double room apartments
  2 of all rooms 2 room 40m2 three room
  55m2
• bathroom with toilet floor area and bide - at
  least 3,8 m2
• air conditioning in all rooms
• minibar in all rooms
• individual safe deposit boxes in all rooms
• a playground or room for children and a special
  menu for children is available in hotels for
  families

15

• minimum size of single bed 100x200, double bed
  160x200 cm in newly constructed hotels double
  bed size 160 x 210 cm
• breakfast room or cafeteria, bar, restaurant,
  banqueting halls
• breakfast menu buffet style table or a la carte
  menu
• lunch and dinner is served in restaurant
• amount of seats in breakfast halls, cafeterias
  and restaurant is more ½ then bed places in
  hotel
• ballroom or night-club
• hairdresser and beauty salon if more than 100
  rooms
• sauna, fitness club, swimming pool in newly
  constructed hotels and spa hotels
• car service available.

16
The main changes in standards 2004

• price list in a visible place for guests in
  reception
• possibility to pay not only in cash but also by
  credit card and transfer
• information leaflet ( 1-2) or folder (3-5) with
  information about the hotel and city or other
  locations
• shower cabin with safety handle and non-slip mat
  or other floor covering
• fire resistance information and evacuation plans
  according to national standards.

17
SPA Hotels

• Spa hotel a company owned or rented property
  intended for guest accommodation and service with
  no less than ten rooms and which offers in
  addition medical treatment, rehabilitation or
  recreational services.
• Spa hotels are awarded a category from 2 to 5.
  Each category has the equivalent number of stars.
  There is no category 1 for spa hotels.
• Spa hotels may be awarded the following
  categories
• ?? (two stars)
• ??? (three stars)
• ???? (four stars)
• ????? (five stars)

18
General requirements for spa hotels

• Spa hotels have separate areas, suitably equipped
  for the provision of health or medical treatment
  services.
• Health and medical treatment services are
  administered by certified personnel with the
  appropriate training according to existing
  legislation.
• Spa hotels can provide all guests who wish them,
  with at least two approved health or medical
  treatment services per day.
• Spa hotels have officially approved spa
  treatment programmes for health improvement.
• Spa hotels provide health and medical treatment
  services for groups and individually.

19
Hotels and Restaurants Centre (VRC)

• Founded by the Association of Hotels and
  Restaurants of Latvia (LVRA) in July 1999 -
  Classification body in Latvia . 20 experts in
  Inspection Commission, 5 in Certification
  Commission .
• VRC main field of activity assessment of hotel,
  guest-house and motel conformity with Latvian
  national standards.
• In 2005 VRC received the LATAK Accreditation
  Certificate for camping site and hostel
  conformity assessment.

20
HOTELS RESTAURANTS CENTRE ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE
21
The Hotels and Restaurants is the certification
body in Latvia accredited at state level to carry
out voluntary conformity assessment for hotels,
guesthouses, motels, campsites and youth hostels
according to the requirements of Latvian national
standards.The Accreditation Certificate issued
by Latvian National Accreditation Bureau
authorises the VRC to carry out certification
according to the requirements of European
standard EN 45011 1998 General requirements for
bodies operating product certification systems
as adapted by Latvia.
22
VRC certifications 2002 - 35 hotels,
guest-houses and motels2003 - 52 units of
tourist accommodation2004 - 59 units of
tourist accommodation2005 62 units, 24 from
them, new accommodation 2006 75 units, 23
new2007 ( 10 months ) 47 units, 19 - new.
At present there are 157 valid certificates
for 108 hotels, 7 spa hotels, 27 guest-houses, 5
motels , 1 camping site and 9 youth hostels
issued by the VRC.VRC certified 44 of
hotels, guesthouses and motels 62 of hotels
23
 

• Classified hotels
  Latvia
• and spa hotels
• 5 stars
  
  5
• 4 stars
  
  16
• 3 stars
  
  79
• 2 stars
  
  11
• 1 star
  
  4
• Total
  
  115

24
Classified guest-houses motels
Latvia IV category

9III category

15 II
category

7I category

1Total

32
25

• The aims of VRC
• to certify at least 150 units of tourist
  accommodation in 2007, 170 in 2008.
• to popularise the activities of VRC in hotel
  classification, especially among new hotels
• to manage amendment and improvement of the state
  accommodation standards ( working group organized
  )
• to implement the common Nordic-Baltic hotel
  classification system harmonizing process of
  standards
• to implement eco-label Green Key and quality
  label Q
• to organize seminars and join international
  projects on hotels quality improvement

26
Further information on VRC classified
accommodation is available on LVRA and LTDA
websites (www.hotel.lv, www.latviatourism.lv ) in
official catalogues and publications of the
Latvian tourism industry.
27
Baltic Nordic Classification Board (BNCB) -
founded in 7th of December, 2006 in
Copenhagen- member states Denmark, Estonia,
Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden - the
system is opened for joining up new members who
submit the application- each country maintain
its own classification system and standards
28

• common sign of the Nordic/Baltic system is based
  on Scandinavian design with letter H in the
  centre
• Nordic Baltic system and sign is important and
  influential marketing tool for recognition of the
  common NB region hotel services
• common web site of the Nordic/Baltic system is
  created and maintained www.nordicbalticclasificat
  ion.org
• regularity of gathering of the BNCB board at
  least once a year
• more than 60 Latvian hotels awarded N/B system
  signs

29

30
(No Transcript)