Scoring System - Hotels

Scoring System - Hotels

All hotels will be graded on the same scale of 0-10. In other words, the same set of criteria applies to all hotels, be it a luxury hotel with a super big room that charges $3000 a night or a dingy inn with a room barely enough to lie flat in that charges $20 a night.

It might seem unfair, but the logic behind this is simple. If you're charging more but cannot provide as good an experience as a hotel that charges less, you should objectively be ranked lower. But if you're able to provide excellent concierge service at $20 a night then you should be better than a hotel that does the same for $3000 a night.

That being said, for this to work the criteria on which hotels are scored based on become very important. This is a list of 10 criteria which I use (elaboration on criteria below):

1. Accessibility

2. Check-in/Check-out process

3. Hotel's facilities

4. Quality of Meals provided

5. Meal variety

6. Room: Living Area

7. Room: Washroom

8. Experiences offered

9. Before-arrival service

10. After-arrival service

Each criteria is scored based on 10 and the score averaged out. I believe this will categorise hotels rather accurately. For instance, a budget hotel is not expected to have much before-arrival service, experiences offered and much facilities. Hence that sets an upper cap on the hotel's score by default. Similarly, a luxury hotel is expected to have everything except maybe value for money, so that raises the cap. A hotel that can give everything at a low cost would, naturally, be better than a luxury hotel that does the same.

Here is an elaboration on what each of these points entail.

1. Accessibility

How accessible is the hotel from the nearest public transport station/stop? Is that public transport stop convenient?

Rough boundaries: No choice but to drive: 0-1, Take taxi or face a 30-minute walk: 1-2. Justification provided on a case by case basis for all other scores.

2. Check-in/Check-out process

Was the check-in/check-out process smooth? Were there welcome snacks/drinks provided? Was a promised check-in/check-out time delivered? Was the process longer than necessary?

• Hotel's facilities

Pool, Gym, Spa facility, space of the lobby, space of the hotel premises in general.

• Quality of Meals provided

How good were the meals included in the stay? This will be a 0 if there are no meals included.

*For hotels that offer breakfast as part of a separate rate, it will be considered as included but value for money proposition will be judged based on the breakfast included price.

• Meal variety

Did the included meals vary? What about the variety of food served within the same meal?

• Room: Living Area

How is the room apart from the washroom? This includes the bed, workstation if any and any other luxury perks like a balcony or a furnished terrace.

• Room: Washroom

How is the washroom? What amenities are provided in the washroom? Is it easy to accidentally scald or freeze yourself in the shower? There might be a bathtub but can I soak comfortably in it? Very first world problem I know, but you simply can't charge exorbitant rates without thinking about these things.

• Experiences offered

Does the hotel offer experiences as part of the stay? A complimentary tour of a nearby attraction perhaps. A free class offered in-house perhaps. These things help to elevate the stay experience.

• Before-arrival service

Strictly limited to concierge service: assistance with restaurant/experience booking or room amenities requested for. Assistance with check-in/check-out details is a given, negative marks might be awarded if the hotel refuses to even communicate through email if necessary.

• After-arrival service

Service at the hotel. This includes housekeeping, receptionist staff and everything at the hotel. The 'soft product', if you will.