How to Turn Your Hotel into a Four-Star Hotel

Among the many hotel construction projects we have carried out are several aimed at refurbishing a hotel so that it achieves 4-star hotel status.

The requirements for becoming a 4-star hotel depend on local regulations, but in every case they are assessed by an independent body. A hotel cannot simply declare itself a 4-star hotel, so the transformation project, besides being technically well executed, must rigorously meet the specific requirements set in each location.

That is why it is essential to have a Project Manager who is clear about the expected outcome of the refurbishment and the objectives that must be met across every aspect of the project.

Specifically, 4-star hotels mark the difference between good accommodation and an establishment able to offer a more luxurious experience: a 4-star hotel is considered luxury accommodation. It is added value that makes all the difference when guests are choosing where to stay.

What does a hotel need to achieve a 4-star rating?

Although the hotel star rating system does not share universal criteria, it is recognised and respected internationally. It has been in use since the mid-20th century so that guests can get a rough idea, based on the hotel’s category, of the facilities and services they can expect from a given establishment.

The star rating system

In Spain, the criteria for determining a hotel’s category are set by each autonomous community, although they tend to be similar. There are 5 categories from 1 to 5 stars, with a 5-star hotel being the one that offers the most luxurious experience. In some exceptional cases, however, the regional Directorate-General for Tourism may rate a hotel as “Luxury” (Gran Lujo), a category above 5 stars.

In this system, a low rating does not mean that a hotel is bad; it refers exclusively to the facilities, above all those of the room, which is ultimately where the guest will stay, and to the establishment’s additional services.

Hotels in the 1 to 3-star categories are considered to focus on covering basic needs, that is, on making sure guests have clean and comfortable accommodation. From 4 stars upwards, more aspects related to the guest experience start to come into play, as part of a luxury service.

Broadly speaking, the characteristics of hotels under this system are:

• 1-star hotels: offer minimal services, with basic, simple rooms; the bathroom is usually shared or, if private, very small.
• 2-star hotels: rooms with a private bathroom and some additional services such as breakfast.
• 3-star hotels: accommodation offering greater comfort, with larger rooms and more amenities such as daily housekeeping or an on-site restaurant.
• 4-star hotels: rooms and bathrooms are considerably larger and fully equipped. They also usually include a wide range of services such as a swimming pool, gym, spa, etc.
• 5-star hotels: hotels distinguished by exclusivity and excellence. They offer personalised services, luxury facilities, top-tier gastronomy and, in general, the highest quality in every respect.

Requirements for 4-star hotels

Dozens of criteria are assessed before a hotel is awarded 4-star status; the most basic and decisive ones usually concern the size of the rooms and bathrooms. From there, other details that improve the guest experience are taken into account.

Although each autonomous community sets different requirements for the 4-star category, the most common include:

• Room size: double rooms must be at least 16 m² and single rooms 9 m²; the bathroom, with a built-in shower or bathtub, must have a minimum floor area of 4.5 m².
• Hotel facilities: a lift, climate control system (heating and air conditioning) and a bar are mandatory.
• In-room amenities: rooms must have air conditioning, a telephone, a safe and a minibar with fridge.

In addition to the requirements set by each region’s regulations, there are other services related to innovation and sustainability that guests expect from a 4-star hotel, such as WiFi or individually adjustable climate control systems.

Hotel Som Dona: an example of a 4-star hotel transformation

At TALAT, we have developed a large number of projects for the hotel sector. One of them is the full refurbishment and extension of Hotel Som Dona, carried out with the goal of upgrading it from a 2-star to a 4-star hotel.

As well as being an example of an intervention designed to raise a hotel’s category, our work for Hotel Som Dona is also a perfect illustration of the importance of personalisation in hotel refurbishment services, since it is a very distinctive establishment with a strong character and charisma.

Som Dona is a women-only hotel located just a 5-minute walk from the marina and fishing port of Porto Cristo, a small town in Manacor (Mallorca). We therefore knew that the intervention had to be respectful of, and integrated with, its surroundings.

All 31 rooms of the existing hotel were refurbished and enlarged, and the lighting, control, fire detection, electrical and telecommunications systems were upgraded.

We carried out both the Project Manager duties (project coordination and review, budget and procurement management, cost and schedule control, and coordination during construction) and the engineering design and construction execution direction (including quality control and Health and Safety coordination).

At Talat we offer personalised, end-to-end services, supporting our clients from the moment the goal is defined until it is certified that we have achieved it as efficiently as possible.

Tell us what you want to achieve and we will help you make your project a reality.