World Cup leads to reclassification of hotels.

The Ministry of Tourism launched today in Rio a new classification model for lodging establishments, the Brazilian Lodging Classification System (SBClass). Developed in partnership with the National Institute of Metrology and Industrial Quality (Inmetro), the system aims to provide greater reliability and uniformity to the classification of hotels, focusing on tourists who will come to the country for the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

"A five-star hotel in Porto Alegre needs to offer the same accommodation and service conditions as one in São Luís or Cape Town," said the Minister of Tourism, Pedro Novais, emphasizing the need for standardization. The SBClass system was created taking into account systems from 24 different countries. According to the Ministry, the previous classification model, implemented in 2002, was revoked last year because it was "outdated."

Although participation is not mandatory for hotels, the government expects most to undergo the evaluation. "There are between 12 and 15 hotels that are eligible to join the system. We believe that by 2014 we will have more than 60% of that total participating," said Novais. The classification obtained by the hotels will be valid for three years, after which it will have to be renewed.

Despite having stricter criteria, including requirements for infrastructure, service provision, and sustainability practices, the new system will maintain the star rating, ranging from one to five. Projects that do not undergo the evaluation will not be able to display any stars.

"Only hotels that are classified will be able to use the symbol from now on," declared the minister. SBClass will divide establishments into seven groups: hotel, farm hotel, historic hotel, resort, inn, bed and breakfast, and flat/apart-hotel.

Novais also said that joining the system will not be a prerequisite for obtaining financing, but admitted that hotels that join may have an easier time. According to him, there are more than R$ 3 billion in credit available from institutions such as the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and Caixa Econômica Federal, among others, for the expansion and renovation of the hotel network for the sporting events. "It will not be for lack of credit that the hotel network will fail to adapt for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics," declared the minister.