There are two different types of hotel reviews: user reviews and professional reviews from travel journalists. When choosing a hotel, it can be helpful to evaluate both. TripAdvisor has long been the leader of the pack when it comes to providing a database of user reviews for every hotel out there. Oyster Hotel Reviews aims to provide consumers with qualified professional reviews of hotels around the world, hoping to compete with the likes of Frommers, Fodors, Conde Nast Traveler and others. Oyster’s reviews take on a longer, more magazine-like form, and are all written by a staff of full-time journalists who travel to each hotel reviewed. There’s no doubt that Oyster’s actual reviews are comprehensive. Reviews include a snapshot summary that lists detailed pros and cons of each hotel, and extensive descriptions on the scene, service, location, features, activities, food and drinks for hotels. Because the review is able to be so lengthy, the details given about the hotel are ones that you wouldn’t normally find on other review sites, such as the thread count of the sheets on the beds or which celebs have stayed there.
During such a time, it was disappointing to see Disney catering only to the rich. It also didn’t seem very smart-the company was pouring millions and millions into a hotel that it likely wouldn’t be able to fill. Galactic Starcruiser’s failures were swift and steady, with the hotel boasting extensive vacancies immediately after opening during the busy summertime, Disney enduring promotional blunders, and the corporation being ridiculed by Universal Studios for transporting luxury hotel guests in what appeared to be box trucks. Finally, barely more than one year after Galactic Starcruiser opened, Disney announced it will shut down the hotel for good come September 2023. Now, we’re learning just how much Disney lost from the whole Galactic Starcruiser debacle. According to Disney’s third-quarter report, the company took a $250 million hit from closing the Galactic Starcruiser. The report reveals that the company is taking the $250 million loss in “accelerated depreciation,” and even blames the hotel for contributing to Disney World’s low performance this quarter.
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Salam Standard is a classification system for Muslim-friendly hotels. Hotels can get certified based on certain Muslim-friendly criteria such as offering prayer mats, removing alcohol from the room and offering halal restaurant recommendations; it is divided into 4 tiers (bronze, silver, gold and platinum). Archipelago Hotels, Indonesia’s biggest hospitality firm, is a prominent member of the Salam Standard system. The advancement of technology and internet connectivity has caused shifts in the way hotel guests book their accommodations. In the past, official hotel ratings were the primary factor in booking a hotel, but now, modern consumers also rely on the opinions of previous guests as expressed in online reviews. These reviews, based on personal experiences, have become increasingly important for other travellers when considering where to stay. Hensens, Struwig & Dayan. Vine, P.A.L. (March 1981). “Hotel classification – art or science?”. International Journal of Tourism Management. This was the first and only worldwide private enterprise system of its kind. The system is internationally considered as exemplary, and has been repeatedly utilised as the basis for the development of a customised classification system (e.g. Germany, Austria).””. 27 July 2006. press release. Government of India, Ministry of Tourism. Wilkinson, James (27 November 2013). “AAA Tourism to close, Star Ratings stays”. Hotel Management. The Intermedia Group. Bradley Woods (28 February 2017). “Star Ratings Australia to cease operations, ATIC to take over”. Spice News. Intermedia Group. AccomNews. Multimedia Pty Limited. Australasian Leisure Management. Punch Buggy. Philippine Tourism. Department of Tourism (Philippines). National Accommodation Standards – Hotel (PDF). Department of Tourism (Philippines). May 2012. pp. v-45. National Accommodation Standards – Hotel (PDF). Department of Tourism (Philippines). Heba Hashem. “Salam Standard launches premium rating for Muslim-friendly hotels, develops API for mainstream plugin”. Baltescu, Codruta Adina. “Are Online Guest Reviews Useful? Implications For The Hotel Management”.
