Hoi An hotels hauled up inflating star ratings

Nguyen Thanh Hong, director of the Quang Nam Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said an inspection was done of tourist accommodation establishments in Hoi An on September 11 and a number of hotels were found proclaiming four- and five-star status without designation as such by authorities.

They were also found using misleading advertising, he said.

They included Le Pavillon Luxury Hoi An Resort & Spa, Allegro Hoi An Little Luxury Hotel & Spa, Koi Resort & Spa Hoi An and Bellerive Hoi An Hotel & Spa.

Quang Nam authorities said Le Pavillon Luxury Hoi An Resort & Spa has not received any star rating but claimed to be a four-star establishment on signboards outside, its official website and travel sites.

It has since removed the signs at the gate.

Inspectors also found these hotels have been advertised as four-star or five-star rating on online room booking platforms, such as Agoda and Booking.

Pham Hong Phuoc, marketing manager of Little Hoi An Group, said following a reprimand by local authorities his hotel has changed its advertising language to prevent any misunderstanding.

Hoi An City has 12 five-star properties, namely Palm Garden resort, Four Season The Nam Hai, Golden Sand Resort, Sunrise Hoi An Premium Resort, Royal Hoi An, Vinpearl Hoi An Resort, Southern Hoi An Hotel, Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An, Shilla Monogram & The five Villa, Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort, TUI Blue Nam Hoi An, and Almanity Hoi An.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, stars are awarded to hotels and renewed every three to five years.

Some do inflate their ratings to hike room rates, it admitted.

In March authorities in the central province of Khanh Hoa, home to beach town Nha Trang, slapped fines of VND10 million ($430) on two hotels for faking their star ratings.