ACTE Global (Association of Corporate Travel Executives) has launched a global hotel accreditation programme tailored to business travellers “in an effort to standardise lodging expectations worldwide”.
Many hotels and conference centres follow leisure travel ratings, but ACTE says many more lack similar metrics based on business travel. The new programme, ACTE-BCHA (Business Conference Hotel Accreditation) is aimed at helping corporate travellers select the most appropriate accommodation for their needs.
ACTE-BCHA says it hopes to accredit more than 10,000 hotels globally by 2020. Properties will pay an annual membership fee, and compliance will be verified by independent monitors. Among the first participants, Dubai-based DNATA has been chosen to inspect new member properties in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East. The programme will rate other regions as it identifies and adds inspection partners.
Vadim Zelenski, CEO of ACTE-BCHA, said: “More than 70 per cent of hotels around the world are independently owned and operated. Even hotels that are part of a franchise system may not meet brand standards. This programme will identify facilities that meet business travellers’ needs.”
Greeley Koch, executive director of ACTE Global and head of supervisory board for ACTE-BCHA, added: “There are all sorts of ratings out there... But they cater to leisure travellers... Business travellers, on the other hand, want well-stocked business centres, safes for laptops, conference centres, room service and a fitness centre, along with a secure environment. That’s what this new rating system seeks to standardise.”
Along with the launch, ACTE-BCHA has appointed Winfried Barczaitis as its chief operating officer, based in Bad Honnef, Germany.
acte-bcha.com