Hotel categorization process in the jaws of Croatian legislator!
- Mar 25, 2016
- 4 min read
As an investor, tourism professional, business developer, student or just a stakeholder in Croatian tourism sector you will be surely interested in newly presented (from January 2016) rules of classification for hotels.
In next sections few illogical and obscure legal requirements form before mentioned rules will be briefly commented.
Pravilnik o razvrstavanju, kategorizaciji i posebnim standardima ugostiteljskih objekata iz skupine hoteli – the rules of classification, categorization and specific standards for hospitality facilities the group „hotels“
Article 4.
The facility/property is existing, if building or part of a building meets one of the following conditions:
3. That is constructed till 31.12.2003 (regardless of the purpose, subsequent reconstruction or extension or upgrade)
4. That the final building permit for the building construction is acquired till 31.12.2003.
The facility/property is new if it not meets the aforementioned conditions.
questions:
Why is the date 31.12.2003 set as a cut-off between new and already existing facility/property when the rules are presented and it would be implemented in 2016?
Article 25.
(3) The staff should not:
2.Detain in a restaurant out of their working hours, except when necessary.
questions:
Before mentioned article is a legal prohibition to retain staff (out of their working hours) out of the facility/property what reduces the possibility of service consumption by employees. This article directly interference the free market and freedom in service providing.
If the legislator wanted to point out that staff with their working clothes on should not detain; it should be so imposed in the article.
Article 25.
Hospitality facilities for the group of hotels are classified in accordance with the mandatory offered hospitality services; in types:
10. Hotel with special standards; Hotel Business, Hotel Meetings, Hotel Congress, Hotel Club, Hotel Casino, Hotel Health & Fitness, Hotel Wellness, Hotel Diving Club, Hotel Motel, Hotel Ski or Hotel for People with Disabilities
Article 28.
(6) All types of Hospitality facilities can be club-type (only for club members)
questions:
Why it is a separate standard for Hotel Club, and additionally is imposed that all types of object can be a club-type?
What's the meaning of the Hotel Club and how is the Club-type hotel labeled is not stated in the rule.
Regarding the marketing and sales point of view, this article could give a big headache to any guest looking on the market offer without knowing that no distinction in labeling between Hotel Club and Club-type hotel exist, and on other hand service providers with properties classified as Hotel Club or Club-type hotel could easily use this as an instrument to promote its properties in both market niches.
Article 28.
(2) Hotel is ... a maximum of four buildings linked with closed connection. In the hotel, the reception and mandatory catering facilities for the preparation and serving of meals, drinks and beverages cannot be located in a building which does not include accommodation units.
questions:
If the legislative already impose that a hotel is a maximum of four buildings linked with closed connection, why one of these buildings could not be the building with only mandatory catering facilities and reception without an accommodation unit?
Article 47.
(2) A hotel can have a maximum of four types of special standards.
questions:
Why a maximum of four special standards? Special standards are introduced with the intention to label hotels which are focused on specific market niche i.e. hotel where facilities offer special services and are suitable mostly or only to meet the specific needs.
Maximum special standards should be stated at 2, and all the above can be perceived as a hotel without focus i.e. standard, because the mix of offers could be suitable for every need.
Article 49.
(3) On the main entrance to the building (reception) and the annexes, must be prominently installed prescribed plate with tags of hotel types and categories.
(4) On the main entrance to the building must be prominently installed prescribed plate with tags of special standard.
questions:
Why would not hotels with special standards have only one plate with tags of hotel type, category, and specific standards?
If we as a society are focused on ecology then certainly we will not duplicate the tags and create additional costs for the nature and also for the hospitality companies.
Article 50.
(1) The plate with tags of hotel type, category, and specific standards can produce only entities - producers (craftsmen, companies), which for the production have obtained the consent of the ministry responsible for tourism (hereinafter: the Ministry).
(4) The plate referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, based on the decision for categorization, service provider should order from the manufacturer, and bear the costs of production and delivery of ordered plates.
questions:
Why only one company in Croatia products the plates? Kordun?
And why the plate price for the hotel is 990,00 kn when production cost are certainly under 90,00 kn (price is 11 times higher than the cost of production)?
All before mentioned is just an overview of the recent proposal for the rules of classification, categorization and specific standards for hospitality facilities the group „hotels“ in Republic of Croatia. This article is mentioned to start discussion and contemplation and not to be an isolated article about illogical nature of Croatian legislation.
It could be stated that system is not perfect but rather unhealthy grotesque, therefore the goal is to contribute to the healthier progress. References: Pravilnik o razvrstavanju, kategorizaciji i posebnim standardima ugostiteljskih objekata iz skupine hoteli https://esavjetovanja.gov.hr/ECon/MainScreen?entityId=2651
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