Hotel Classification / Re -Classification Guidelines have been revised to make the hotel services customer oriented.  The revised guidelines have been approved by the Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism, Dr. K.Chiranjeevi, after receiving suggestions from the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

The revision of these guidelines has been aimed to provide a higher level of services in hotels and also making the information about customers’ rights available to them on and even before their arrival. The Minister expressed the hope that the revised guidelines will make the hotels more visitor-friendly and hospitable. The important changes in the guidelines include the following:

i.       All Star Hotels should clearly indicate on their website under the head ‘Facilities and Amenities provided on complimentary basis’ the facilities and amenities provided to guests “free of cost” like complimentary breakfast (indicating broad classification like Indian breakfast, Continental breakfast or American breakfast), iron and iron board facility, shoe polishing facility, shoe horn and slippers, dental kit, shaving kit, etc.  If any facility is provided only ‘on request’ but is included in the room rent, that should also be mentioned on the hotel’s website under the head ‘Facilities and Amenities provided on complimentary basis’. All such  facilities should also be mentioned to the guest when the hotel staff introduces the room to him/her on arrival. In case the ‘complimentary’ breakfast is not a buffet, the guest must be shown a list stating in English the name of all complimentary items.

ii.     All Star hotels shall provide water sprays or bidets or washlets or other modern water based post-toilet-paper hygiene facilities. This condition shall be applicable to all new hotels that will start operating from 1.4.2016. For the hotels which have come into operation or will come into operation before 31.3.2016 these facilities will be mandatory from 1.4.2022.

iii.  All hotels in the categories 4 Star, 5 Star & 5 Star Deluxe shall provide a telephone within an arm’s reach of the toilet seat or provide a mobile internal telephone. This condition shall be applicable to all new hotels that will start operating from 1.4.2016. For hotels which have come into operation or will come into operation before 31.3.2016, this guideline will be applicable from 1.4.2022.

iv.  All Star hotels shall provide at least two multi-purpose sockets capable of  handling US, European  Community and Japanese plugs  at or just above the table level. It should be possible for guests to charge a laptop and cell phone simultaneously. This condition shall be applicable to all new hotels that will start operating from 1.4.2016. For the hotels which have come into operation or will come into operation till 31.3.2016, this guideline will be applicable from 1.4.2022. However, till such time as this facility is provided on a permanent basis, it will be mandatory for all star hotels to provide multi-socket adapter plugs on request.

v.     All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe hotels shall provide tea/ coffee making facility in the room on complimentary basis. The iron and iron board facility will be made available on request in the room in 1 to 3 Star category hotels on complimentary basis and in the room in 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe hotels on complimentary basis. This will be stated on the hotel’s website under the head ‘Facilities & Amenities provided on complimentary basis’ and mentioned to guest while checking in.

vi.  All 3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe hotels shall provide a hair dryer facility in the room on complimentary basis. In 1 Star and 2 Star, this facility will be made available on request on complimentary basis.

vii.            All 3 Star hotels shall have the facility of a mini fridge and all 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe shall have the facility of mini bar with effect from 1.4.2014.

viii.         Air-conditioning common areas like Lobby, Restaurants, Verandas, bar where they are open to nature on one or more sides shall not be mandatory for beach, lake, backwater, river, hill, mountain, forest or nature Hotels & Resorts.

ix.  All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe hotels shall provide a luminous LED wall clock with numerals of three inches or more on display near their swimming pools.

x.     It will be desirable for all 5 Star deluxe hotels to have air-conditioned porches and heated swimming pools.

xi.  All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe hotels shall install blackout curtains by 1.4.2015.

xii.            All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe hotels shall provide luggage racks, portable or fixed, for two large suitcases by 1.4.2015. This will be stated on the hotel’s website under the head ‘Facilities & Amenities provided on complimentary basis’ and mentioned to guests while checking in.

xiii.         The bathrooms of all Star hotels shall have hooks for at least 3 garments in the bath room.

xiv.         All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star deluxe hotels shall provide a safe in the rooms.

xv.            It will be mandatory for all the hotels classified under the category 1 to 4 Star to display their classification status prominently outside the hotel and at the reception from 1.4.2014 as per a scheme to be evolved in consultation with FHRAI and HAI.

xvi.         Henceforth time-sharing accommodation will also be considered for classification as per the guidelines for classification/re-classification of hotels.

RC/nb