How We Review, Score and Update
The complete methodology behind every rating on Home Star — what we measure, how we visit, and what makes a property lose its place in the collection.
The four pillars
Every property is assessed against four weighted pillars. Architecture & suites (35%) covers structural quality, room design, housekeeping standards and quiet — a casino hotel that cannot deliver sleep fails regardless of its chandeliers. Gaming floor (25%) looks at the diversity of tables and slots, table minimums, dealer professionalism and the atmosphere of high-limit rooms. Dining & wellness (25%) evaluates chef-led restaurants, breakfast quality, spa treatments and pools. Service culture (15%) measures everything from valet to concierge memory.
The visit protocol
Reviews are based on unannounced stays of at least two nights, booked and paid for by Home Star. We photograph rooms as found, keep receipts, and log response times for housekeeping and room service. A property is visited by at least two editors in different seasons before it can enter the collection, and the final score is agreed by the full editorial board.
Scoring
Scores run from 1.0 to 5.0 and are published to one decimal place. Anything below 4.5 does not appear on Home Star at all — we would rather show three exceptional properties than thirty adequate ones. Roughly one in ten properties we visit meets that bar.
Corrections and removals
Hotels change. When renovations, management changes or reader reports suggest a rating has drifted from reality, we re-visit. If a property no longer meets the standard, it is removed at the next quarterly audit. Factual errors are corrected within 48 hours of verification, and material corrections are noted on the page. To report one, email editorial@home-star.info.
Advertising policy
Home Star carries no casino advertising and accepts no compensation — financial or in kind — from any property we cover. Links to official resort booking systems are provided for reader convenience only and earn us nothing. Where Canadian provinces require responsible-gaming messaging, we publish it prominently: gaming is entertainment for adults 19+, never a source of income.
Update cadence
The collection is audited every quarter. Ratings, amenity lists and entertainment calendars are checked against official sources; guest impressions are refreshed with recent, verified stays. The date of the last audit for the current collection is available from the editorial team on request.