Benchmarking the standards of facilities and services provided by motels, on the sides of highways, to cater to motorists, the Centre has decided to grant approval to only those new motels or those seeking fresh approvals that have facilities for digital payments, have safety mechanisms and are disabled and environment-friendly among others. The Union Tourism Ministry recently issued new guidelines in this regard.
"At a time when the Government is focusing on digital transactions, these establishments must migrate from cash to cashless payments. Customers too are happy to make payment by digital wallets, and credit and debit cards. Also, they need to be inclusive and disabled-friendly to cater all type of customers.
"The aim is to promote safe, secure and better hospitality facilities at highways for travelers and provide the Motels with enough cafes, rest rooms, toilet facilities and other facilities," said a senior official from the Ministry.
He said motels have been classified as per the facilities being provided by them.
"The guidelines have been framed after intense deliberations with the tourism and hospitality industry along with the stakeholders. The Motel is expected to maintain required standards at all times. The new guidelines treat Motels separately from the Hotel classifications," he explained.
According to the guidelines, motels which are an important segment of the hospitality sector, providing a budget accommodation is classified as a Hotel designed primarily for motorists, having their main entrance on a National Highway or a State Highway or on a Service Lane of a National / State Highway.
"Motels cater to the hospitality requirements of road travelers through the facilities and services offered by them, with the rooms usually arranged in low blocks with parking directly outside," says the guidelines.
The new motel or those seeking re-approval will have to pass test from the Hotel & Restaurant Approval and Classification Committee (HRACC) comprising Chairperson, Secretary (Tourism) of the concerned State Govt. or Additional Secretary.
Other members include (Tourism) or Director (Tourism) or Additional Director (Tourism) of the concerned State besides representative from the Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Association of India( FHRAI), Hotel Association of India (HAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI).
Approval will be given valid for three years. "Applications will not be considered as received till such time they are free from all deficiencies. The HRACC may inspect a motel at any time without previous notice," said the official.
The Motel must be able to convince the committee that they are taking sufficient steps to conserve energy and harvest water, garbage segregation, and disposal/ recycling as per Pollution Control Board (PCB) norms and following other eco-friendly measures, pointed out the official.