Uganda to recognize its 5 star Hotels

The hotel ratings program undertaken by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) saw hotels being classified into various quality categories.

The exercise targeted 73 hotels in and around the capital Kampala for inspection in which only five hotels were classified as five stars. Among the capital’s 5 star hotels are Serena hotel, Imperial hotel and Sheraton hotel.

29 Ugandan hotels have successfully attained internationally recognized classification in the first phase of a process that will see most hotels in the country get similar classification.

The move to classify all of Uganda’s hotels is in compliance with the East African Community Statute on grading the hospitality business as a stimulus for economic growth and job creation.

The inaugural hotel stars awards night which will be attended by over 200 hotel owners and managers will be officiated by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday, June 26. The high quality hotels will receive plaques of excellence from the government.

The move is another positive step in the hospitality industry that is expected to boost the tourism industry that is now the number foreign exchange earner for the country. Accommodation constitutes a crucial segment of the hospitability industry and the level of comfort a traveller finds in the sleeping and food usually determines their level of satisfaction. It is also usually the most costly segment of the travel budget.

“We believe that hotel classification will significantly increase consumer expectations from hotels, as well as the quality of service in Uganda’s hotels,” said Ssempebwa.

UTB has however warned that hotels found claiming to have quality levels they had not earned would be penalized.