Experts advise business travelers from South Africa not to rely solely on hotel star ratings when booking accommodation abroad, as they warn that the same three- or four-star classification can vary significantly depending on the country.
Mmi Mafodjane, General Manager of FCM South Africa, notes that travelers are accustomed to a certain room size and standard in South Africa, but these expectations often do not align with international realities. For instance, hotels in European cities are usually smaller due to their location in old buildings, while second-tier cities in developing regions may experience inconsistent water, electricity, and internet services.
Even if a hotel has the same star rating, the standard underpinning that rating often depends on who assigned it, and in some destinations, there is no official classification body.
Mafodjane reported that an FCM Insights report shows that companies are becoming more mindful of accommodation expenses, and more corporate bookings are shifting towards the three- and four-star hotel segment. Meanwhile, demand for corporate travel in Africa remains high, with Mozambique, Zambia, Ghana, Botswana, and Zimbabwe being popular destinations for business travelers from South Africa.
However, as Mafodjane emphasized, a four-star rating can mean different things in each of these countries, and this is where the value of a managed hotel program comes into play. She added that complaints about disappointing stays on the continent almost always concern hotels advertised as four-star, and the problem lies in the absence of an official body behind that rating.
According to FCM data for 2026, the most popular international destinations for corporate travelers from South Africa are Germany, the UK, the USA, the UAE, and China. The company also recommends considering the differences in hotel value across various markets. While a four-star hotel in South Africa typically offers spacious rooms, breakfast, room service, and secure parking, similar hotels in cities like London or Paris are often significantly smaller despite much higher rates.
According to the FCM Consulting Insights 2026 report, corporate travelers spent an average of $349 per night in London and $531 in New York in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $233 in Cape Town and $196 in Johannesburg.
Instead of relying only on star ratings, Mafodjane advises travelers and travel managers to assess practical factors affecting a business trip. These include reliable backup power and water supply, safe transfers and parking, stable Wi-Fi for video conferencing, payment options, flexible cancellation terms, and the property's inclusion in the company's risk management and employee care program.
She concludes that the star rating reflects the hotel's own opinion, whereas the company should focus on backup infrastructure, safe transfers, payment and cancellation terms, and the possibility of direct contact with the decision-maker at the hotel. Mafodjane also noted that many local African hotel chains outperform international brands because they are adapted to local operating conditions, making generators, boreholes, and reliable transport standard features rather than premium additions.
FCM urges companies to build their corporate travel policies around vetted hotel brands, not star ratings, asserting that brands provide a more reliable indication of the overall guest experience. According to Mafodjane, companies that take the time to research and build their hotel program will sleep sounder and spend less than those who limit themselves to star ratings in their travel policy.
