Muslim Friendly Tourism:
Regulating Accommodation Establishments
In the OIC Member Countries
67
Efficient Handling of Muslim Guests Needs
Other hotels witnessed an increase in the level of efficiency in dealing with Muslim guests.
The non-Muslim staff, as mentioned by both Hotel Sheraton Zagreb and Rixos Dubrovnik,
have become more aware and understanding of the needs of Muslim guests. 149
4.3.5. Challenges and Lessons Learned
 Having a standard that includes different levels of compliance encourages
accommodation facilities to adopt it since the first level usually covers minimum basic
requirements. This even applies to global hotel brands as evidenced by the fact that
Sheraton, Rixos, and Hilton were among the hotels that have applied for MFT
certification in Croatia.
 The Rulebook is especially appropriate for non-Muslim countries since the first
category mainly requires providing Halal food options, providing prayer facilities
within the room and removing alcohol from the mini-bar. All of which are steps that
are quite easy to implement.
 Government legislation has a role in encouraging hotels to become MFT certified
especially if it is illegal for a hotel to claim that it is Halal or Muslim-friendly without
an official certification.
 It is important to obtain government support for MFT standards as in the case of the
Center for Halal Quality Certification, which has a contract with the government
appointing them as the authority responsible for Halal in Croatia.
149 Interview conducted for the Croatia case study, Center for Halal Quality Certification