As the criteria is currently undergoing review.
In its advisory last Thursday, February 19, the Department of Tourism announced that temporarily suspending the conduct of Star Rating Classification Assessment for Hotels, Resorts and Apartment Hotels (HRAs).
Being conducted by the department’s Tourism Standards and Regulation-Standards Monitoring and Enforcement Division (OTSR-SMED), the directive is “effective immediately until further notice.”
“The suspension is due to the ongoing review and enhancement of the current assessment guidelines and process to ensure alignment with the 2024 National Accommodation Standards (NAS),” the DOT explained the reason behind the move.
The department then said that during this period, all on-site assessments shall be deferred, including re-assessment requests for previously evaluated properties.
“All applications received prior to the issuance of this Advisory shall be given priority once the conduct of Star Rating Assessment resumes,” it added.
They then acknowledged the importance of the National Accommodation Standards or the Star Rating Classification Program, and assured that that the halting of the process is intended to “ensure improved efficiency, transparency, and overall service quality upon resumption.”
Meanwhile, it noted that its Regional Offices will continue to process new and renewal applications for accreditation of accommodation establishments, and told that further updates on the classification system will be announced in due course.