The purpose of this note is to inform you about the draft of the new guidelines for the Hotel Classification System, published by the Ministry of Tourism on May 2nd, 2024, on the website of the National Commission for Regulatory Improvement (“CONAMER“, for its acronym in Spanish). These new guidelines aim to standardize, organize and harmonize the categories of lodging establishments throughout the country, improving the accessibility and sustainability of lodging services.
It is important to note that these provisions have not yet been published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, and therefore they are not binding and subject to public consultation. Interested parties can access and participate in the consultation process through CONAMER’s website.
Publication and Current Content
Such guidelines pose several key innovations. Firstly, they focus on the tourist by providing realtime information about the services and infrastructure of lodging establishments, thereby facilitating decisionmaking. Secondly, a standard classification is implemented through a regulated self-assessment mechanism, which will allow establishments to understand the state of their facilities and services, obtaining a category represented by stars. Finally, accessibility and sustainability of hotel services are enhanced, rewarding inclusion and the protection of the country’s natural heritage and environment.
Impact of the New Guidelines
These new administrative provisions will significantly facilitate the procedures associated with the classification of lodging establishments and promote efficiency in the provision of tourism services. The modifications will also boost the competitiveness of hotel establishments, enabling better organization and standardization within the sector.
These guidelines are not included in the Federal Tourism Law or its Regulations, but (upon formal enactment and publication) may become binding under Article 4, Section XII of the General Tourism Law, which grants the Ministry of Tourism the authority to regulate the classification of hotel and lodging establishments. Additionally, the Regulations of the General Tourism Law establish in Article 85 that the Ministry of Tourism will set up a Hotel Classification System that will be integrated into the National Tourism Registry.
Most Relevant Content
The new guidelines establish general provisions for the operation and functioning of the Hotel Classification System, detailing the procedure to obtain the classification certificate, including the process of registration and classification through self-assessment and obtaining categories. The guidelines also include the reclassification procedure, allowing service providers to perform new selfassessments and improve their categories. Additionally, the process for canceling the classification certificate is established, along with final provisions that include transitory provisions on the entry into force and the repeal of previous guidelines.
New Categories of the Hotel Classification System
The new categories are the following:
- Category 1 star: 1-260.
- Category 2 star: 261-520.
- Category 3 star: 521-780.
- Category 4 star: 781-1040.
- Category 5 star: 1041-1300.
- No category: Optional.
