In a move that is likely to give a boost to the hotel industry, the government on Friday announced delinking hotel classification from liquor service, a long standing demand of the industry.
The new provision which comes into effect immediately is applicable to four and five star hotels in non-heritage and classic category hotels in Heritage sector. Under the previous guidelines of the tourism ministry, alcohol service was essential for hotels seeking classification under the categories of 4 Star, 5 Star, 5 Star Deluxe, Classic Heritage and Grand Heritage.
As per the new guidelines, hotels in the categories of 5 Star and 4 Star in non-Heritage sector and Classic category Hotels in Heritage sector can now be classified as ‘5 Star with alcohol service’, ‘5 Star without alcohol service’, ‘4 Star with alcohol service’, ‘4 Star without alcohol service’, ‘Classic Heritage with alcohol service’ and ‘Classic Heritage without alcohol service’, an official statement said.
It added, “This decision would provide flexibility to hotel owners and management to take considered decision on whether to provide alcohol service or not in their units.”
The ministry has, however, made it compulsory for all the classified hotels to make their precise classification status shown on the opening page of the hotel’s website and declare such status clearly on their promotional and marketing material to protect the customer’s interest.
The government has also simplified hotel classification and re-classification procedure by not seeking the licenses and clearances which are issued by various local, state and central government authorities for operation of hotels.
“The hotels would be required to submit only the current and valid trade licence and bar licence, if applicable," Tourism Minister Shripad Naik said, adding that the step has been taken in consonance with the Prime Minister’s directive to cut the red tape.
He said the decision would remove unwanted procedure and speed up the classification and re-classification process.
Instead of various licenses and clearances, including land utilisation certificate, building completion certificate, forest and environment clearance, pollution control clearance, police clearance, fire safety clearance, health and sanitation clearance, the ministry will now take an affidavit from the hotel authorities that it is operating after obtaining all necessary licenses and clearances.
