Aiming to further improve quality and efficiency of hotel services

Sharjah, June 23, 2015

Within the framework of its continuing efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of hotel services in the emirate, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) organised a meeting with the emirate's hotel sector representatives to discuss an updated hotel classification system and its implementation mechanism. The meeting was held in the presence of HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General of SCTDA.

Addressing the meeting, HE Al Midfa underlined the focused approach of SCTDA towards concrete initiatives that enhance the overall tourism experience in Sharjah, and stressed the importance of cooperation between the hospitality and tourism sectors to improve Sharjah's tourism products and hotel services to its visitors from all around the world.

"The new hotel classification system will be a key step towards achieving the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which aims to attract more than 10 million tourists to our emirate by the year 2021. The new system, based on a new rating approach and mechanism, will set new benchmarks in quality of services provided by the hospitality sector based on visitor experiences," said HE Al Midfa.

Discussing the new system, the meeting shed light on the amendments in the updated classification, which includes several new elements to assess the facilities, ranking them by points and grades across a number of criteria. The results are evaluated from periodic inspections and experiences of guests gathered in reports provided by Olrey, the leading travel data provider in the Middle East, based on online visitor feedback on the hotel facilities on the world's leading websites. Additional points are granted for positive initiatives and additional services provided by the hotel facilities as part of the mandatory standards adopted by SCTDA in its hotel performance evaluations.

Minimum Mandatory Criteria has been set by SCTDA to ensure that the minimum expectation of the guest is fulfilled, while Rating Criteria has been included based on the state of the infrastructure, facilities and services that enhance the guest experience in an integrated manner.

The meeting explained that the new classification features 10 designators such as Beach Hotel, Resort Hotel, Business Hotel, Airport Hotel, Conventional Hotel and Heritage Hotel, which have been added to the star rating categories based on geographical location and services provided to visitors.

SCTDA recently launched Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 by focusing on four main pillars - Ideal Family Tourism Destination, Innovative Tourism Approach, World Class Tourism Facilities and Capabilities, and International Cultural Hub - to strengthen the status of the emirate as a leading destination for family tourism.

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About SCTDA
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) was established in 1996 by Emiri Decree No. 5, with the objective of promoting commercial and tourism activities in the Emirate of Sharjah.

SCTDA endeavours to develop these sectors through various events, activities and issuances, and promotes the emirate at all local, regional and international levels.

Consequently, it carries out all the work and activities necessary to achieve their goals by way of planning and drawing up strategic plans to further development and to promote the tourism industry in all its forms. SCTDA also undertakes all related social and economic studies. It compiles the policies for participating in the local, regional and international exhibitions. SCTDA also aims at marketing and promoting Sharjah to attract foreign investment.

SCTDA uses all available means and different media to raise public awareness locally, regionally and internationally of the unique features Sharjah offers as a special tourist destination. On the international front, it seeks to participate in international and regional events and activities to promote the emirate and place it on top of the international map. Today, Sharjah has become a preferred destination for tourists from around the world.


For more details, please contact:
Grace El Jurdi, SCTDA
Tel: 06 566777
Email: gress.j@sharjahtourism.ae

Amr Diab, Maha Abukhater
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
T: +971 4 4507619
Amr.Diab@bm.com
Maha.Abukhater@bm

© Press Release 2015