New stars rising: France revises hotel ratings | latimes.com

Tourism authorities in France are phasing out the familiar blue octagonal rating sign (top) that greets guests on the facade of more than 17,000 of the country’s hotels. The new classification, still voluntary, evaluates hotels on 240 norms that cover technical aspects of each property and, for the first time, service levels. Hoteliers earn one to five stars instead of the old zero to four stars deluxe.