TheAtout France hotel classification systemis based on a set of criteria established by the decree of December 29, 2021, which took effect on April 1, 2022. This set of criteria is not limited to guest rooms; it also covers the establishment’s common areas, the condition of which is verified during each classification visit by an accredited assessment body. Understanding what the auditor checks in these areas—and how to document their proper maintenance—allows you to approach the audit without any unpleasant surprises, whether you’re applying for the first time or seeking a classification renewal.
How the December 29, 2021, decree affects your common areas
The 2021 reform updated the classification system for tourist hotels, providing a precise definition of what constitutes common areas and strengthening the cleanliness and maintenance requirements for these areas.
A scope expanded to include all common areas
The guidelines define common areas as the combination of the bar area, the breakfast room, the lounge, the lobby, the restrooms, the stairwells, the elevators, the hallways, and other common areas. Each of these areas must be clean and in good condition when the auditor visits.
A mandatory criterion that cannot be offset
The guidelines classify this criterion—cleanliness of common areas—asmandatory and non-compensatory: if it is not met, the evaluating body must issue an unfavorable opinion, regardless of the level of compliance with the other criteria. A poorly maintained common area can therefore, on its own, cause an application for classification to be rejected.
What the auditor actually checks on site
The evaluation is not based solely on a general impression. It is based on factual evidence and a physical inspection of each space, supplemented in some cases by a mystery visit for 4- and 5-star categories.
A visual inspection, but one that is documented
The assessment agency notes the absence of dirt on the walls, peeling paint, stained carpeting, or broken furniture. This inspection is conducted on-site, but for certain criteria, it is accompanied by a requirement to provide supporting documentation.
The “AJO” criteria: evidence to be provided, not just an observation
Some of the criteria in the guidelines are markedAJO, which stands for “must be substantiated during the inspection.” The operator must therefore be able to provide proof—not just show that the space is clean on the day of the visit. It is precisely on this point that day-to-dayspace managementbecomes a compliance issue, going beyond the condition observed on the day of the inspection.
The Risk of a Lack of Traceability in the Management of Your Spaces
A common area may be clean at the time of the audit without the facility having a usable maintenance or occupancy history. However, if the auditor has doubts about the cleanliness or current condition of a particular area, the operator may be asked about recent incidents and the remedial measures taken. Without traceability, this explanation relies solely on the operator’s word.
An Even Greater Challenge for Renewals
The classification must be renewed every five years. An institution that does not maintain a record of how it manages its common areas must reconstruct this evidence for each cycle—often on short notice—rather than relying on data that is already available.
How to Ensure a Successful Rating Audit
To ensure a smooth classification visit, there are several best practices that allow you to document how common areas are managed in advance, rather than having to figure it out during the audit:
- have a dated history of maintenance work by area,
- be able to justify the occupancy and actual use of each common area,
- centralize this data so that it can be quickly accessed in the event of a question from the evaluating body,
- Anticipate the AJO criteria by identifying in advance which ones apply to your common areas.
The Practical Consequences of an Unfavorable Opinion
An unfavorable assessment of common areas does not merely result in a delayed classification. The establishment must correct the issue causing the delay and then request a new inspection, which entails additional time and costs. For a hotel that has already communicated a classification goal to its guests or business partners, this delay can also impact its market positioning while it works to achieve compliance.
Prepare for Your Ranking Audit Rather Than Just Going Through the Motions
The cleanliness of common areas is not just one criterion among many inthe Atout France hotel rating system: it is a mandatory requirement—not one that can be offset by other factors—and some of the checks require dated proof, not just an observation made on the day of the visit. Establishments that approach the audit with confidence are those that already have a usable record of how they manage their spaces, rather than having to piece one together at the last minute. It is this level of preparation that makes the difference between an early classification renewal and an audit that feels like a burden.