UNIVERSAL CRESCENT STANDARD CENTER

IQS - ISLAMIC QUALITY STANDARD FOR HOTEL AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO STAR RATING STANDARD .    

CREATING AN ISLAMIC MANAGEMENT STANDARD IN MANAGEMENT OF HOTEL.

 

 Islamic Compliance Standards

Dato’ Prof. Dr. Ismail   Ibrahim                                                      Chairman, Universal Crescent Standard Center [UCSC], MALAYSIA
                                                                                                                   

One of the objectives of Universal Crescent Standard Centre in short UCSC is to create standards which are in conforming with Islamic principles, in various fields, which include but not limited to Islamic Tourism Industry, Islamic Banking and Finance and Islamic Insurance. This move is based on private initiative with the hope to get various supports from universities and government agencies.

IQS-ISLAMIC QUALITY STANDARD FOR HOTEL is being adopted by UCSC as a measuring mechanism to measure the quality of hotels which are in compliance with Islamic Principles.
The Awards are from IQS-1 Crescent [the Lowest] to IQS -7 Crescent [The highest]

The work of Professor Shaya’a Othman and Associate Professor Dr. Nor’ain Othman in formulating IQS-Islamic Quality Standards for Hotel Industry creates the interest of UCSC, to publish it as well as to adopt it, as a guideline of measuring and classifying levels of quality for hotels, not only in Malaysia but also all over the world.

The idea of IQS was also being discussed with H.E.Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad [Former Prime Minister of Malaysia] and also Mr Fadil Akgunduz, the first operator of Islamic Hotel in the world.
From right: Asso. Prof. Dr. Nor'ain, Dato' Prof. Dr. Ismail, Prof. Shaya'a, Mr. Fadil and H.E. Tun Mahathir.

The significant increase in Muslim Tourists arrivals in the world has put a great demand for accommodations which are “Muslim friendly”. If we exclude Muslims pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, Malaysia is the top preference for Muslims tourist followed by Turkey. The easy availability of Halal foods in both countries, make these countries as the preferred destinations of Muslim tourist. It was reported in daily Milliyet of Turkey that the needs for such “Muslim friendly” accommodations in Turkey increased to about 200% just over the past 5 years. 

It is timely that a standard of classifying accommodations which are in conformation to Islamic principles should be introduced in the markets. The formulation of IQS-Islamic Quality Standard For Hotel and the publication of this book is a step forward of introducing such Islamic standard in Tourism Industry or Islamic Tourism. It will become an alternative to the present classifications or levels of standards which are widely being practiced by the west known as “star-rating’. We plan to develop more IQS –Islamic Quality Standards, not only in Tourism industry but also in other industries.