AN ELITE international association of luxury representing small hotels and restaurants has said that Singapore's hotel service quality is still not up to standard.

Relais and Chateaux, established in France in 1954, admits members with stringent criteria from all over the world.

It currently has only 480 hotel and restaurant members from 56 countries, and only one from Singapore - fine-dining French restaurant Saint Pierre. Director of development for the Asia region of Relais and Chateaux Stephane Junca said: 'I think the main issue is service.

Service in Singapore compared to that in other Asian countries seems far below. When I go to a hotel, and they systematically clean up my room everytime I go out of my room, that's service.

Here, we do morning and sundown service in the evening, that?s it. Minimum,' he said.

He also cited time inflexibility issues.

'When I am on vacation, I want to have breakfast at noon - why can't I do that? The whole city is about speed, and Relais and Chateaux is about leisure.'

He said the criteria for becoming a Relais and Chateaux member is notoriously stringent. Hotels and restaurants have to meet these famous five 'C's:

* Courtesy - which defines service

* Charm - For roperties with a unique character

* Character of managers who display charisma

* Calm - For properties which have taken steps to protect the environment and their natural setting)

* Cuisine - for gourmands who display passion, experience, creativity and savoir-faire.

In spite of service issues in hotels, Mr Junca commended the restaurant and food culture in Singapore.

'There's a real gastronomy culture in the city, which is very open to different cuisines. There is a good mix and people love food here,' he noted.

Among some of Relais and Chateaux's international members are the Castle Hill Inn and Resort in Rhode Island of the US, which overlooks the ocean from the top of a rocky promontory, the Inverlochy Castle in Scotland, and the Matahari Beach Resort and Spa in Bali.