Republic of Mauritius
TOURISM AUTHORITY
Request for Expression of Interest
Consultancy services to finalise the design and assist in the implementation
of the Hotel Classification System in Mauritius
Reference No: TA/EOI/1/2013
1. Background
The Tourism Authority is a parastatal body operating under the aegis of the
Ministry of Tourism and Leisure and is governed by the Tourism Authority Act
2006 (and as subsequently amended). The Tourism Authority is the agency
designated by the Government of Mauritius to promote the sustainable
development of the tourism industry, and, foster and encourage the conduct of
activities in the tourism industry in a responsible manner in order to preserve the
integrity of the Mauritian destination.
The 2012 Budget Speech provides for the establishment of a Hotel Classification
System in Mauritius. In this respect, the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure has
initiated, as a priority project, actions for the classification of hotels.
The objectives of the Hotel Classification System include the following:
-
To encourage hotel establishments to continually upgrade their facilities,
amenities and services, and, hence to raise standards and build up quality
tourism in Mauritius
-
To help promote an orderly development of the accommodation sector and
to sustain Mauritius as a premier holiday destination
-
To inform consumers – the hotel classification system will constitute an
indicator, a piece of information that will give confidence to the consumer
before, during and after his stay.
-
To allow tourists to make informed decisions when visiting Mauritius and to
get value for money
-
To have a standardised listing which allows other related businesses (e.g.
tour operators and travel agencies) to have a reference they can use when
preparing their catalogues, when negotiating wholesale deals, or when
putting together a customised product.
-
To facilitate marketing and promotion – hotels, while showing the number of
stars they have, will be able to promote their specific characteristics, and
their additional services
In February 2012, a Steering Committee was set up at the level of the Ministry of
Tourism and Leisure to drive the project forward in a spirit of dialogue and
consultation with key stakeholders in the industry. Four Technical Working Groups
(TWGs), which consisted of more than thirty (30) stakeholders from both the hotel
industry and public sector, had been created to discuss and finalise the criteria for
assessment in the following operational areas:
(i) Rooms and Front office
(ii) Support Services
(iii) Food and Beverage
(iv) Wellness, Sports and Entertainment
The TWGs had been meeting regularly to work out the criteria. The initial point of
departure for development of the criteria pertained to those standards used in
classification systems in other countries. However, the criteria had been adapted
to the local context and had been subject to several rounds of discussions.
The following criteria had been elaborated:
Operational Area
Group of Criteria
Food & Beverage
-
Food and Beverages
Rooms & Front Office
-
Front Office
Concierge
Reservation
Guest Relations
Laundry
Public Areas
Rooms
Maintenance, Environment and Landscaping
Back of House Support Services
Safety and Security
Support Services
Wellness,
Sports
Entertainment
&
-
Indoor Activities /Games
Spa
Land and Water Sports Activities
Gym
Entertainment
The design of the Hotel Classification System has yet to be completed. Indeed, the
criteria for technical assessment require fine-tuning and weight needs to be
assigned to each of them for classification purposes. In addition, other key issues
remained to be finalised including the methodology, the scoring mechanism, the
hotel classification manual and other relevant documents, institutional structure
and capacity building.
It is against this backdrop that the Tourism Authority (the Implementing Agency) is
looking for an International Consultant to finalise the design of the Hotel
Classification System and assist in its implementation.
2. Objective of the Exercise
The Tourism Authority is seeking Expression of Interest (EOI) from international
qualified Consultants/ Consultancy firms to offer consultancy services to finalise
the design and assist in the implementation of the Hotel Classification System in
Mauritius. As a result of the invitation of the EOI, the Tourism Authority shall
proceed with a selection from a list of those consultants/consultancy firms
submitting an EOI.
The consulting assignment would include the following tasks:
-
To finalise the design of the hotel classification system
o To complete the design of the Hotel Classification System, above all,
to finalise the criteria for each operational area
o To establish categories and determine the minimum criteria and
weights for each category
-
To look into the implementation of the Hotel Classification System
o To identify all implementation issues/activities
o To draw an implementation schedule with clear start dates, duration,
end dates, milestones and responsibilities
o To finalise key documents
o To build capacity at various levels (internal and external) and
sensitise stakeholders
o To establish a Hotel Classification Committee as well as a system for
appeal / dispute resolution
o To set up a monitoring and enforcement system
3. Evaluation criteria
For selection purposes, the consultants/consultancy firms would be evaluated on
the basis of, but not limited, to the following:
(i.)
Competences of the proposed consultant(s) (Qualifications, Relevant
experience, Other experience)
(ii.)
General Experience - Details of projects previously undertaken
(iii.)
Specific Experience - Details of projects previously undertaken in relation
to the design and implementation of Hotel Classification / Grading of
accommodations
(iv.) Knowledge of principles and processes of hotel classification
(v.)
Experience in working with hotel establishments
(vi.) Knowledge of the tourism sector in Mauritius
(vii.) Knowledge and experience in the design, implementation and evaluation
of capacity building/ training programmes in the area of Hotel
Classification / Grading of accommodations
(viii.) Computer literacy and ability to use Microsoft packages
(ix.) Fluency in English and French
4. Request for proposal (RFP)
Request for proposal (RFP) will be issued to only the selected
operators/companies, after having established their eligibility based on the
minimum qualification criteria as given above. Failure to meet any of the above
criteria will lead to rejection of the EOI.
5. Eligibility
The selection exercise for the offer of Consultancy services, to finalise the design
and assist in the implementation of the Hotel Classification System in Mauritius, is
opened to foreign consultants/consultancy firms.
6. Supplementary Information
All correspondence related to this exercise shall be made in English. Questions
regarding this Expression of Interest and any clarification sought by any
individual/firm in respect of the service shall be addressed, in writing, to:
The Director
Tourism Authority
2nd Floor, Victoria House
Corner Barracks & St Louis Streets
Port Louis
Fax: 213-1738
Email: tourism.authority@intnet.mu
The reply thereto shall be sent as an addendum to all prospective firms without
identifying the source of the clarifications.
7. Collection of Expression of Interest
Other details of the requirements and conditions are contained in the Expression
of Interest documents which can be downloaded from the Authority’s website at
www.tourismauthority.mu and from the following websites:
www.tourism-mauritius.mu/
http://publicprocurement.gov.mu
http://tourism.gov.mu/
Hard copies of the EOI and related documents are also available for consultation,
during office hours (from 9.00 to 16.00 hours) on weekdays at the Tourism
Authority, 2nd Floor, Victoria House, St Louis Street, Port Louis.
8. Submission of Expression of Interest
Interested parties should forward their Expression of Interest along with their
curriculum vitae (in three copies), together with the duly filled form to The Director,
Tourism
Authority
at
the
address
given
below
or
by
mail
st
(tourism.authority@intnet.mu) not later than 13.00 hours on 31 October, 2013.
2nd Floor, Victoria House
St Louis Street
Port Louis
Mauritius
The envelope shall be clearly marked:
“TA/EOI/01/2013 – Consultancy services to finalise the design and assist in
the implementation of the Hotel Classification System in Mauritius”
The envelope containing the EOI, CVs and duly filled form should be deposited in
the Tender box located at the seat of the Tourism Authority, Level 2, St Louis
Street, Port Louis, Mauritius. The EOI should also contain a brief describing the
proposal and the modalities of its operation. Financial proposals should not be
submitted at this stage.
For foreign consultants/consultancy firms, the EOI should be submitted by
Registered Mail or other Registered Courier Services.
Kindly note that any late submission of EOI shall outright be rejected and that
EOIs are not transferable.
The EOI will be opened at the abovementioned address given above at 13.30
hours on the same day.
The Tourism Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and
annul the Expression of Interest exercise without thereby incurring any liability
whatsoever to any investor.
9. Cost of EOI
All costs incurred by the individual/firm for the Expression of Interest shall be
borne by the individual/firm and will not be reimbursed.
Tourism Authority
11th October, 2013