Hotel classification guidelines revised

Hotel classification guidelines have been revised to provide a higher level of services and make them customer-oriented.
The guidelines were revised after receiving suggestions from the tourism and hospitality industry, said a senior Tourism Ministry official.
The official said 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.
According to the revised guidelines, all star hotels should clearly indicate on their website the facilities and amenities provided to guests "free of cost" like complimentary breakfast (indicating broad classification like Indian, Continental or American).

The other facilities include iron and iron board facility, shoe polishing facility, shoe horn and slippers, dental kit and shaving kit.
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 or 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.

The guidelines also entail that 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 April 1, 2016.
For the hotels which have come into operation or will come into operation before March 31, 2016 these facilities will be mandatory from April 1, 2022.