Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced an increase in five-star hotels in Addis Ababa, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to elevate hospitality standards and promote Ethiopia as a competitive destination for conference tourism.

In a press briefing held this week, Tariku Demissie, Lead Executive for Tourist Services Quality Assurance and Rating at the Ministry, revealed that out of 92 hotels assessed, 40 met the criteria required to earn official star ratings. This includes 34 existing hotels and six newly established properties. The evaluation focused on a comprehensive set of standards, including mandatory compliance with national fire safety codes.

According to the Ministry, 11 hotels were awarded five-star status, with others ranked across four, three, two, and one-star levels. The five-star hotels in Addis Ababa are:

Hyatt Regency Hotel
Skylight Hotel
Sheraton Addis Hotel
Elilly International Hotel
Capital Hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel
Marriott Executive Apartments
Golden Tulip Hotel
Hilton Addis Hotel
Inter Luxury Hotel
Nexus Inn Hotel

Additionally, three of the five-star awards were granted to newly introduced hotels in the city, signaling growth and ongoing investment in Ethiopia’s premium hospitality offering.

The Ministry used 12 main evaluation criteria to determine the rankings, covering service delivery, infrastructure quality, safety, environmental management, accessibility, and overall customer experience. Hotels scoring over 90% received a special “Star Grand Deluxe” classification, while those scoring between 49% and 89% were placed on a scale from five stars to one star, depending on performance.

To ensure transparency and credibility, the evaluation process was overseen by various industry stakeholders, including the Ethiopian Hotel and Tourism Employers Federation, Addis Ababa Hotel Owners Association, Ethiopian Hotels Experts Association, Addis Ababa Tourism and Hotel Experts Association, the Tourism Training Institute, and the Ethiopian Tourism Experts Association.

Tariku emphasized that promoting standardized hospitality services is essential to strengthening Ethiopia’s international competitiveness in the tourism sector. He added that quality assurance plays a vital role in enhancing the overall visitor experience, encouraging tourists to extend their stays, and increasing the country’s appeal for international conferences and events.

The hotel rating initiative, which began in 2014/15 in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization, has so far evaluated and ranked approximately 365 hotels nationwide. The latest rankings will remain valid for three years, during which the Ministry will continue supervisory and inspection efforts to maintain and improve service levels.

Plans are also underway to expand the rating program to other regions of Ethiopia to promote balanced tourism development and maximize the socio-economic benefits of the hospitality industry nationwide.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald

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Ethiopia Sees Rise in Five-Star Hotels as Ministry Pushes for Conference Tourism Growth