16 Oct 2025
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Azerbaijan participated for the first time as a full member of the Hotelstars Union (HSU) at the 10th General Assembly, held on 16 October in Paphos, Cyprus. The gathering also was held alongside the 91st HOTREC General Assembly (15–17 October), bringing together tourism and hospitality representatives from across Europe to discuss future priorities, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in marketing and the global promotion of the official star classification system.
Azerbaijan’s full membership, confirmed earlier this year, represents a significant achievement for the country’s hospitality sector. It stands as recognition of the progress achieved in building a quality-driven tourism environment and marks a new chapter in Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe’s harmonized hotel classification network.
Rashad Aliyev, Deputy CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board, attended both assemblies, highlighting the collaborative efforts that led to this achievement and outlining the country’s upcoming priorities for the hospitality sector.
“Our first time taking part in this assembly as a full member is a proud moment for everyone working in Azerbaijan’s hospitality sector and a sign of how much progress we’ve made together over the past years,” said Rashad Aliyev in his speech.
Since joining the Hotelstars Union as an Implementing Member in 2019, Azerbaijan has made steady progress in establishing a transparent and reliable hotel classification system aligned with international standards. With the support of Azerbaijan Tourism Board as the Certification Body, 298 hotels have so far been classified in accordance with the Hotelstars Union criteria.
Azerbaijan’s active participation in both the Hotelstars Union and HOTREC highlights its ongoing commitment to quality, consistency, and international cooperation in tourism development—strengthening the country’s reputation as a trusted and competitive destination in Europe and beyond.
