I’ve stated on this blog previously that some hotel star ratings are a bit of a nonsense, as new 6 and 7 star hotels continued to spring up. Now one hotel is claiming to offer an “8 Star Gourmet Emotional Experience”. The following is an extract from a press release from Relais Santa Croce, the latest acquisition of Baglioni Hotels:
To sample some of the best food in the world try our 8 Star Gourmet Emotional Experience – 5 stars belonging to the Relais Santa Croce and 3 Michelin stars belonging to the Enoteca Pinchiorri: an unparalleled opportunity set inside the same Palazzo that houses both the hotel and this renowned restaurant. Charming spaces enriched by frescos and work of art from Florentine history, luxury rooms and, memorable dinners created by one of the world’s greatest chefs, go together to create a very special stay in a magical city.
Honestly, I never pay attention to anything above 5 stars. Once it is 5 stars or above, it is the level of service and experience I receive that will shape my opinion.
Comment by kendal h — March 8, 2010 @ 4:02 pm
This is just plain idiotic. Someone might as well come out and call themselves a 100-star hotel because after five, they’re all meaningless. It’s like a wine scoring 110 points. It’s either great compared to everything else or it’s not. Inflation in the nomenclature won’t help.
Comment by Luxe Latin — March 19, 2010 @ 8:23 pm
I agree that inflating ratings is unnecessary and amounts to very little in terms of experience. After all, I have seen many reviews of 3 & 4 star accommodations which have better overall customer reviews than 5 star establishments. It isn’t the number of stars that create an unforgettable luxury travel experience, it’s the experience itself.
However, one could choose to think about this self-proclamation in a more constructive light. It could be viewed as raising the bar, increasing the level of expectation and then delivering the experience you claim to give in order to improve the marketplace and consumer experience. I’m not saying that it’s absolutely necessary, but what would be the problem with having a 10-star system instead of the normal 5 stars to really create a more realistic reviewing process? Sometimes my experience really is much better than the average 5 stars but that’s all I can offer. Or perhaps I feel my experience was in better than 5 but not as high as it could be. There still isn’t anything that will allow me to accurately rate it.
Rather than railing on this establishment for their self-proclaimed 8-star rating, why not take them to task and see whether or not they really are more than any 5-star hotel or eatery you’ve ever experienced? If a company is really that good, why should they have to settle for the same rating as those who are not up to that level? It’s just a thought…
Comment by Andrea Santucci — May 10, 2010 @ 8:08 pm
It is a simple marketing ploy, to help part wealthy people and their money. Especially the ones who are not very bright!
Comment by Nathan Allan — May 12, 2010 @ 11:27 pm
If you are using amount of stars then it cannot exceed 5 (maybe 6 stars). It’s a joke to say that you are a 8 star hotel at the prices they are charging. Although it’s not cheap, it’s definitely affordable for those that have a decent income.
Comment by Michael (LUXGetaway.com) — May 13, 2010 @ 6:48 am