PRIMITIVE ECONOMICS

My mother, when alive had this funny approach to economics. She was of the opinion that government should not allow any individual to have more money than morality and basic life amenities demand. And when I explained the concept of capitalism to her, she debunked it as inequality that breeds all manner of social vices. That was when Abiola was a big deal; I wonder what she would say now with Dangote owing practically the nation. And Bill Gates half of the world.

She had a solution. Government should on the basis of census print enough money to go round every adult to ensure inequality bridging. Again, my explanation of dynamics of inflation was similarly challenged by her. She wondered why same amount of money distributed evenly will create inflation while same amount of money in an individual hand will not be a catalyst for inflation! Sadly, she had since gone to be with the Lord but her school of thought intrigues me still.

From room rates to bed types, there will always be inequalities in the industry. Hotel classification is the industry’s practitioners attempt at segregating hotels to identifiable types using' star's as means of identification. In recent past, it was limited to 5 stars and 1 star as baseline.

The emergence of some jaw dropping properties in the Middle East and far Asia has however push up stars classification, with some hotels going as far as seven stars.
Hotel classification is not rocket science even rocket science has been simplified on goggle.

Classification is done based on available service, size or number of rooms, infrastructures, number of restaurants and bars, availability of spa and recreational facilities and hardly on locations. For example, as a symbol of modern Dubai, the Burj Al Arab stands arrogantly with the rest of the world in awe. You have to be. With nine world class restaurants and bars, 202 luxurious duplex suites, personalised butler service, four swimming pools (two outdoor and two indoor), a private beach, helicopter and Rolls Royce airport transfer service. It is simply breathtaking and star sapping!

Put this side by side with any Nigerian hotel and tell me how you will classify them. In all fairness, there may be no basis for comparison as far as structures go but we should be able to compete in terms of service delivery.

With such facilities, I guess my mum would have opted for the Burj Al Arab at the expense of her treatise on inequality. Honestly.