The Seychelles Tourism Department recently held a week-long training for new hotel assessors. This program, in partnership with the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), aims to elevate the islands’ accommodation standards and support the National Hotel Grading Programme. This initiative, launched in January 2024, has already graded 52 hotels, ensuring sustainable and globally competitive hospitality.
A New Chapter for Seychelles Hospitality: Raising the Bar
Imagine stepping onto the pristine shores of Seychelles, ready for an unforgettable getaway. What if you knew, with absolute certainty, that every hotel, from a cozy guesthouse to a luxurious resort, met specific, high-quality standards? That’s the vision driving the Seychelles Tourism Department’s latest endeavor: to significantly enhance our hospitality offerings.
We’ve just wrapped up an essential week-long training program for new hotel assessors. This wasn’t just any training; it was a collaboration with the prestigious United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), ensuring our standards are truly world-class. Held from September 1st to 6th, 2025, at the stunning Savoy Resort & Spa, the goal was clear: to boost the number of expert assessors needed for our groundbreaking National Hotel Grading Programme. This vital program, which officially kicked off in January 2024, has already begun transforming our hotel landscape, with 52 facilities proudly graded across our beautiful islands.
Growing Our Team of Experts
We gathered a diverse group of 22 participants for this intensive training. It included dedicated staff from the Seychelles Tourism Department and independent industry professionals, all eager to contribute to our mission. The program was carefully structured to provide a comprehensive learning experience. Participants spent time in theoretical classroom sessions, delving into the intricacies of hotel grading. But it wasn’t all books and lectures; they also engaged in hands-on field assessments. This blend of theory and practical application was crucial. It ensured everyone gained a deep understanding of the entire grading process, from mastering evaluation methodologies to applying them effectively in real-world hotel settings. This balanced approach guarantees our assessors are fully equipped to make fair and accurate judgments.
A Holistic Approach to Excellence
The training curriculum was broad and forward-thinking, covering a range of critical topics. We explored the vital role of sustainability in modern hospitality, understanding how our hotels can minimize their environmental impact and contribute positively to our delicate ecosystem. Accessibility was another key focus, ensuring our accommodations are welcoming and comfortable for all guests, regardless of their needs. Of course, guest service excellence was at the heart of our discussions, emphasizing the human touch that makes a stay truly memorable. Finally, we delved into online reputation management, recognizing the immense impact of digital feedback in today’s travel landscape. This multi-faceted approach allows our assessors to evaluate hotels holistically, looking beyond just the physical infrastructure. They now consider service quality, the overall guest experience, and a hotel’s commitment to responsible practices. It’s about ensuring every aspect of a guest’s stay meets, and ideally exceeds, expectations.
Setting International Benchmarks with a Local Touch
One of the core aims of our National Hotel Grading Programme is to align Seychelles’ accommodation standards with the very best international practices. By doing this, we’re not just improving our hotels; we’re ensuring they are credible, consistent, and highly competitive in the global hospitality market. We want travelers worldwide to recognize Seychelles as a destination synonymous with quality.
However, we also recognized the importance of maintaining locally relevant assessment criteria. While striving for international excellence, we are careful to preserve the unique cultural, environmental, and operational context that makes Seychelles so special. This dual focus is a powerful combination. It strengthens both the global appeal of our destination and the authenticity that travelers cherish. We believe this balance is key to sustainable and meaningful growth.
Boosting Traveler Trust and Destination Appeal
Tourism is the lifeblood of our economy here in Seychelles. Therefore, maintaining exceptionally high hotel standards isn’t just a nicety; it’s an absolute necessity. By training more assessors, we achieve several crucial goals. Firstly, we drastically improve the accuracy and reliability of our hotel classifications. This means when a hotel receives a certain grade, travelers can trust that it genuinely reflects its quality. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, this builds immense visitor confidence. Tourists can then make truly informed accommodation choices, secure in the knowledge that their stay will meet their expectations.
This initiative also plays a significant role in securing our long-term destination competitiveness. As Seychelles continues to attract discerning travelers—those who seek luxury, sustainability, and exceptional experiences—our commitment to quality becomes an even greater asset. Hotels that achieve higher grading are naturally positioned to appeal to these premium market segments. This, in turn, boosts our tourism revenue and reinforces our well-deserved reputation as a world-class island destination. It’s a virtuous cycle of quality and success.
Pioneering Sustainable and Resilient Tourism
Beyond luxury and comfort, our training program also highlighted the indispensable role of hotels in promoting sustainable tourism. Assessors were specifically trained to evaluate properties based on their environmental management practices. This includes looking at energy efficiency initiatives, waste reduction efforts, and how hotels are engaging with and benefiting local communities. By integrating these sustainability criteria directly into our grading system, Seychelles is ensuring that future tourism growth is responsible. We are committed to protecting our pristine environment, which remains our most precious asset. This program strengthens our islands’ capacity to support eco-conscious travelers. It also actively promotes responsible hospitality practices across the board. We believe this is not just good for the environment, but also for the long-term vitality of our tourism sector.
A Lasting Impact on Seychelles Tourism
The National Hotel Grading Programme is set to profoundly shape the future of Seychelles’ tourism industry. By consistently enhancing accommodation standards, this program will attract a higher caliber of tourists, ensuring sustainable growth for years to come. As our hotels elevate their services and align with global benchmarks, our archipelago becomes increasingly appealing to luxury travelers. This transformation isn’t just about better hotels; it’s about a healthier economy. It boosts tourism revenue, creates new job opportunities for our people, and strengthens the overall economic fabric of our nation. Ultimately, it cements Seychelles’ status as a leading global tourism destination, one that offers not just beauty, but also unparalleled quality.
Excelling in a Competitive Global Arena
In today’s highly competitive global tourism market, superior hospitality standards are a non-negotiable. Through our National Hotel Grading Programme, Seychelles is not just participating; we are excelling. Our rigorous assessments and unwavering adherence to international standards are building immense credibility for Seychelles’ hotels. This positions them as top choices for discerning global travelers. We’re placing an even greater emphasis on the guest experience, promoting sustainability, and fostering service excellence. This program ensures that Seychelles not only maintains its cherished reputation but also actively anticipates and stays ahead of evolving tourism trends. We are building a future where every visit to Seychelles is synonymous with an exceptional experience.
What’s Next for Hotel Classification?
The Seychelles Tourism Department isn’t stopping here. We have ambitious plans to further expand the National Hotel Grading Programme. This includes training even more assessors in the coming months. This expansion is vital; it will allow an increased number of hotels to participate in the grading process. The ultimate benefit? Tourists will have access to even clearer and more reliable information on hotel quality across our islands. As our nation’s tourism industry continues its vibrant growth, initiatives like this assessor training exercise will be absolutely crucial. They ensure we uphold high standards of service, foster industry growth, and importantly, preserve the unique and distinct character that makes Seychelles so magical.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of the National Hotel Grading Programme?
The primary goal is to elevate the quality of accommodation standards across Seychelles, aligning them with international best practices to ensure hotels are credible, consistent, and competitive globally.
How many hotels have been graded so far?
Since its launch in January 2024, the National Hotel Grading Programme has successfully graded 52 hotel facilities throughout the Seychelles islands.
Who participated in the recent assessor training?
The training included 22 participants, comprising staff from the Seychelles Tourism Department and independent industry assessors.
What kind of topics were covered during the training?
Topics included sustainability, accessibility, guest service excellence, and online reputation management, ensuring a holistic understanding of hotel evaluation.
How does this program benefit tourists?
By providing clearer and more reliable information on hotel quality, the program helps tourists make informed accommodation choices, thus enhancing their overall visitor confidence.
How does the program address sustainability?
Assessors are trained to evaluate properties based on environmental management, energy efficiency, and community engagement initiatives, promoting responsible tourism within the islands.
What is the long-term vision for the program?
The long-term vision is to attract higher-value tourists, boost tourism revenue, create jobs, and firmly establish Seychelles as a leading global tourism destination through consistently high accommodation standards.
Will there be more assessor trainings in the future?
Yes, the Seychelles Tourism Department intends to further expand the program with additional assessors trained over the next few months to include more hotels in the grading process.
References
United Nations Tourism Organization
