A new Russia Government regulation will make it obligatory for every hotel in the country to obtain a star-category classification ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Of a total of 4,500 hotels only 471 were officially certified while only 31 hotels have star certification, according to data from Russia’s Federal Tourism Agency.
The new regulations will divide hotels into five categories and award points based on the number of rooms and the services offered.
The hotel categories will be evaluated by a special committee of representatives from the Federal Tourism Agency and other ministries.
The paid classification is expected to cost about $1,500 for three to four-star hotels with less than 100 rooms.
Hotels that fail to get the certification will pay a fine and some of their activities will be curtailed.
Certificates will be issued for five years, but hotels will have to reaffirm their status twice a year, according to themoscowtimes.com.
