Mexico Adopts Standardized Hotel Star Ranking System

Mexico has enacted a new hotel classification guidelines under which the authorities can measure, in a standardized and objective manner, eight variables under which a hotel can be classified.  The variables are: accessibility, communication, rooms, food and beverage, front desk, A/C, guest services, and public areas. Each variable is worth a certain number of points.  The hotel will be awarded a certain number of stars, from 1 to 5, depending on the number of points obtained, as follows:

Points		Category
1	260	1 star
261	520	2 stars
521	780	3 stars
781	1040	4 stars
1041	1300	5 stars

Hotels with 1 star are deemed to offer only the indispensable; hotels with 2 stars are deemed offer basic services and infrastructure; hotels with 3 stars are deemed offer adequate facilities and services; hotels with 4 stars are deemed offer superior facilities and services; and hotels with 5 stars are deemed offer exceptional facilities and services. The guidelines also define the following terms: boutique, bed and breakfast, city center, city, conventions, business, express, luxury, vacation, full service, and all inclusive.

While some hotel operators have criticized the guidelines and referred to them as unfair, the authorities believe that the benefits to the tourists outweigh any potential harm or inconvenience to the hotel operators.  The guidelines can be accessed in the Federal Gazette dated September 12, 2016.

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about the guidelines or you need information on how to register your hotel.

Mauricio Leon de la Barra has more than 15 years of experience advising and representing individuals, family offices, private equity firms, and domestic and international corporations, in a wide range of domestic and cross-border matters. He also advises and represents law firms, receivers and trustees in cross-border matters involving Mexico assets or Mexico law. Mauricio is licensed to practice law in Mexico and California.