Travel Guide Samarkand is a magazine about travel, food, hospitality and culture. Samarkand is the starting point of our identity; Uzbekistan is our editorial focus, with an ambition to expand thoughtfully across Central Asia.
TGS Selection — editorial framework, version 1.1, 26 September 2026. This page launches the rules for a future programme of documented, on-site reviews. It does not announce inspected venues or award winners. Existing articles, “Top 10” lists and mentions are not awards under this framework. Only a dated review explicitly identifying a TGS distinction and its evidence can establish an award.
A magazine with a clear point of view
We want readers to understand where they are travelling, choose places that suit them and discover work worth supporting. Our editorial sections cover restaurants and food, hotels and guesthouses, guided experiences and craft workshops, places and routes, and people and culture. Quality can be found in a family kitchen or a small guesthouse as well as in a luxury venue. Price, fame, follower counts and lavish decoration do not buy a recommendation.
Our starting geography is Uzbekistan. Expansion will depend on local knowledge, language capability and the resources to verify visits; a regional ambition is not a claim that every Central Asian destination is already covered. Historic monuments, sacred sites and living traditions receive contextual journalism, not a commercial hospitality score. We assess an organised tour or visitor service separately from the cultural value of a place.
What readers should expect from each label
- Guide / editorial feature: researched information or a story. A listing alone does not mean the writer visited or recommends every service.
- Visited: a dated account based on a documented visit. The article states what was tried and who paid. This label is not a distinction.
- TGS Bronze — Recommended: at least 75/100, every criterion at least 3/5, at least one qualifying paid visit and independent evidence review by a second editor.
- TGS Silver — Outstanding: at least 85/100, every criterion at least 3.5/5, at least two qualifying visits on different dates and two reviewers who have each visited.
- TGS Gold — Exceptional: at least 93/100, every criterion at least 4/5, at least three qualifying visits on different dates, with at least two reviewers who have each visited. A written consensus must explain the exceptional quality.
- Sponsored / Advertisement / Hosted: a commercial or supported relationship, disclosed clearly. It is not a quality distinction.
TGS Bronze, TGS Silver and TGS Gold are three editorial distinctions, not hotel star classifications, official certificates or safety guarantees. We will not label a place “best in Uzbekistan” on the basis of a limited sample. A list must identify its geography, publication date, selection basis and whether its order is a ranking.
How the assessment works
Each criterion is scored from 0 to 5: 0 unacceptable; 1 poor; 2 inconsistent or materially below reasonable expectations; 3 good and dependable within the venue’s stated format; 4 excellent; 5 exceptional and supported by specific observations. The weighted total is the sum of each score divided by five and multiplied by its weight. Evidence is recorded before calculating the result. Missing evidence is “not assessed”, not a zero or an assumed pass: an incomplete assessment cannot earn a distinction.
Totals are rounded only for display; thresholds use the unrounded result. The category, visit date and framework version must travel with a score. A hotel score is not comparable to a restaurant score. An editor may withhold a distinction despite a qualifying total if the evidence is insufficient, but may not award below the published threshold. The reason is recorded.
For multiple qualifying visits, calculate each criterion as the arithmetic mean of its visit scores, then apply the published weights. Every required visit must independently meet the minimum criterion scores for the proposed distinction; an average cannot conceal a below-standard visit. Only visits within the preceding 12 months count.
Restaurants, cafés, teahouses and food venues — 100 points
- Flavour and execution — 30: balance, seasoning, texture, temperature and cooking appropriate to the dish.
- Ingredients and freshness — 20: observable quality, suitability and honest ingredient descriptions; origin claims require evidence.
- Coherence and culinary character — 15: a clear point of view and care across the dishes sampled. Traditional and contemporary cooking are equally eligible.
- Service and hospitality — 15: accuracy, respectful treatment, useful menu explanations, handling of reasonable requests and problems.
- Value and price transparency — 10: the complete bill, disclosed service charges, portion and experience relative to the price and local alternatives.
- Guest environment — 10: observable cleanliness, comfort, maintenance and suitability for the venue’s format. Expensive décor earns no automatic advantage.
A qualifying visit samples several representative items where the menu allows; a single-product specialist is judged within that format. Reviewers record the dishes, time, bill and limitations. A meal cannot establish consistency over an entire menu or year. Alcohol availability, imported ingredients and a foreign-language menu are not requirements.
Hotels, guesthouses and small stays — 100 points
- Cleanliness and maintenance — 25: room, bathroom, bedding and shared areas actually used.
- Sleep and room comfort — 25: bed, noise, temperature, light control and functioning essentials during the stay.
- Service and reliability — 20: booking, arrival, assistance, problem resolution and departure.
- Accuracy and value — 15: the room matches its description; charges, included services and cancellation conditions are clear.
- Sense of place — 10: thoughtful hospitality, design or connections that help a guest understand the destination, without requiring a historic building.
- Practical guest information — 5: honest directions, transport advice, facility limitations and specific access information.
A qualifying review requires at least one overnight stay from booking to checkout, not a press tour of an empty room. Silver requires two separate stays; Gold requires three. At least two reviewers must each stay on site. Room category, nights, rate, inclusions and any facilities not tested are disclosed. A pool, spa or room service is not mandatory if not promised.
Guided experiences, tours and workshops — 100 points
- Knowledge and interpretation — 25: accurate explanations, distinction between fact and legend, and willingness to acknowledge uncertainty.
- Delivery and organisation — 20: programme, duration, meeting point, group size and communication match the offer.
- Participant care — 20: clear briefings, proportionate risk information, suitable pacing and responsible responses to problems.
- Local contribution and respect — 15: respectful treatment of residents, craftspeople, heritage and customs; purchasing is voluntary.
- Value and transparent inclusions — 10: tickets, transport, materials, commissions and optional extras are explained.
- Engagement and distinctive quality — 10: meaningful participation or insight, rather than simply the number of stops.
The reviewer takes the complete advertised experience as an ordinary participant. High-risk activities require appropriate specialist competence; if the editorial team cannot assess them responsibly, no distinction is issued. Permits or professional qualifications, where relevant, must be checked separately, not inferred from a polished website.
Eligibility gates and practical information
Unresolved credible concerns about serious safety risks, abuse, discriminatory treatment, coercive sales, deceptive charges or major hygiene failures block a distinction while facts are checked. Concerns are documented and the operator is offered an opportunity to respond. An editorial visit is not a regulatory inspection or a guarantee that no hidden risks exist.
Access, dietary needs, family facilities and language availability are recorded as concrete facts, not guessed from photographs or nationality. “Halal certified” needs an identifiable, current certificate; vegetarian options are not automatically allergen-safe. Readers with allergies should confirm directly with the venue. Environmental claims need dated, specific evidence; attractive nature imagery is not proof of sustainability. We do not issue a sustainability badge in version 1.1.
From a suggestion to a published decision
- Record the candidate, category, location, reason to consider it and any commercial or personal connection.
- Plan an ordinary visit. A qualifying award visit is paid for on normal guest terms, with no invitation, free service or review-linked discount; anonymous where practical. If recognised, record the circumstances.
- Keep dated notes, receipts, sampled services and evidence for each criterion. Do not fabricate visits, quotations or reviewers.
- A second editor reviews factual support, conflicts, scoring and eligibility. If an independent second reviewer is unavailable, the article may be published as a visit report, but no distinction is issued.
- For Silver complete at least two visits, and for Gold at least three visits and resolve disagreements through evidence or an additional visit. No averaged score may conceal a failed gate or criterion floor.
- Publish the scope, visit month and year, review byline, distinction level if earned, reasons, limitations, price context and any relationship disclosures.
AI can assist with organisation, language and translation, subject to human checking. It cannot experience a meal, inspect a room or generate evidence for a score. Reader reviews and online ratings are leads, not substitutes for qualifying visits. Translation must preserve the same distinction, date and disclosures across English, Russian and Uzbek.
Editorial independence and commercial relationships
Advertising, affiliate links and partnerships must be identified near the relevant material. Paying for advertising, applying for consideration or buying a promotional service cannot buy inclusion, a score, an award or removal of criticism. Advertising decisions are kept separate from assessment; anyone with an ownership, employment, close family or financial interest must recuse themselves from scoring and approval.
Hosted visits may support clearly disclosed features, but cannot count as qualifying visits for distinctions. Before an award, a separate ordinary paid assessment is required. Reviewers must not request gifts or free services in exchange for coverage. Operators may check factual details and respond to criticism; they cannot approve the verdict or veto publication. Review notes and personal information are handled with care; private receipts and guest data are not published.
Validity, corrections and appeals
A distinction is valid for a maximum of 12 months from the latest qualifying visit, with an explicit expiry date. Renewal requires a fresh qualifying visit and editorial approval; Silver renewal requires two visits and Gold renewal requires three, with at least two on-site reviewers within the preceding 12 months. No automatic rollover. After expiry, the historical review can remain, clearly marked as no longer a current distinction.
A major ownership, chef, management or concept change, closure or credible serious complaint triggers review and may lead to a temporary suspension. An expired, suspended or withdrawn distinction must not be promoted as current. Material corrections include a dated explanation; ordinary spelling fixes do not imply a new visit.
Send corrections or appeals to info@samarkandguide.com with the page URL, disputed statement, visit date if relevant and supporting evidence. We aim to acknowledge within five working days and give a substantive response within twenty; if more time is needed, we explain why. A person not responsible for the original verdict should assess the appeal. An appeal does not guarantee a changed result or removal.
Suggest a place or work with the magazine
Readers and businesses may suggest a restaurant, stay or experience free of charge. Send its name, location, official contact, offering, normal prices and relevant access information to info@samarkandguide.com. Tell us about any relationship with the venue. Do not send customer records or unnecessary personal documents. A suggestion does not guarantee a visit, article, deadline or award.
Commercial proposals should be labelled “Advertising / Partnership”; editorial suggestions “TGS Selection”. There is no payment route to a distinction. An awarded venue may display only an authorised TGS mark with its level, year, location and a link to the current review. A distinction belongs to the reviewed venue and service, not automatically to a chain or another branch. No mark may be displayed before the award is published. Version 1.1 does not launch a paid plaque or badge licensing programme.
Accountability and next steps
The next stage is to build the visit record and publish evidence-led reviews, not to assign awards retrospectively to every existing listing. Methodology changes will be dated and explained; older reviews retain their original framework version. Travel Guide Samarkand and TGS Selection are this magazine’s own editorial project, not an affiliation with another guide or an official tourism certification.
Our symbol: the TGS Gate
The pointed portal stands for discovery and hospitality; the sun evokes light and travel, and the open book represents the magazine and knowledge. The same symbol connects the magazine logo, the award plaque and the presentation trophy. Bronze, Silver and Gold are three levels of one programme, not three different organisations.
Scores may use half-point steps. Every mandatory visit must meet the criterion floor for its level. All eligibility gates apply to every level. A venue receives only the highest level for which both its score and documented visits qualify.
The illustration is a proposed trophy design, not a photograph of manufactured awards or an announcement of winners. A real award must carry the venue, category, level, year, certificate number and a QR link to its dated review and expiry. The online review is authoritative; no payment buys a level. Manufacturing specifications and samples will be confirmed separately.
Automation disclosure: clearly labelled reference guides may be researched, translated and published by an automated system after source and consistency checks. They are not personal inspections or award reviews. Uncertain material is held for review. Awards always require human visits and editorial approval.
