Food & Beverage News: F&B Specials - Bed & Breakfast scheme to supplement availability of hotel rooms

In order to meet the scarcity of hotel rooms during the Common Wealth Games next year, the Centre has launched the Bed and Breakfast Scheme. The Union Ministry of Tourism has announced guidelines for approval and registration of 'Incredible India Bed And Breakfast' Establishments.

With the aim of providing comfortable Home Stay Facilities of Standardised World Class Services to the tourists, and to supplement the availability of accommodation in the metros and tourist destinations, the Union Ministry of Tourism has classified fully operational rooms of Home Stay Facilities as Incredible India Bed and Breakfast (B&B) Establishments.

According to the ministry sources, the basic idea is to provide a clean and affordable place for foreigners and domestic tourists alike including an opportunity for foreign tourists to stay with an Indian family to experience Indian customs and traditions and relish authentic Indian cuisine.

The Bed & Breakfast facilities have been categorised as Silver and Gold. The Regional Classification Committee, as specified in the guidelines, will inspect and assess the Bed & Breakfast Establishments, based on facilities and services offered. The details of the standards, facilities, services and the documents required for approval of such establishments will be as per these guidelines.

Bed & Breakfast Establishments, once approved by the Ministry of Tourism, will be duly publicised. A directory of all such approved establishments will also be prepared, so as to enable domestic as well as foreign tourists to live in a homely environment and to take advantage of the scheme. In addition, efforts will be made to organise short-term training in hospitality trade to those who would opt for such training.

The classification for B&B Establishment will be given only in those cases where the owner /promoter of the establishment along with his /her family is physically residing in the same establishment and letting out minimum one room and maximum five rooms (10 beds).

The scheme will be on Bed and Breakfast basis and charges will have to be levied accordingly. The type of breakfast to be offered will have to be specified, the charges will have to be displayed and the visitors will have to be informed in advance so as to avoid unnecessary dispute.

Once an establishment applies for classification/ re-classification, it will have to be ready at all times for inspection by the Regional Classification Committee. No requests for deferment of inspection will be entertained.

Classification will be valid for two years from the date of issue of orders or in case of reclassification from the date of expiry of the last classification provided that the application has been received within the stipulated time, i.e. 3 months before the expiry of the last classification.

The Bed & Breakfast Establishment will be expected to maintain required standards at all times. Any changes in the facilities of the Bed & Breakfast Establishment will have to be informed to the Regional Director, India Tourism Office, within 30 days. If any violation of this comes to the notice of the authority then the classification will stand withdrawn or terminated.

More than 300 houses and 800 rooms have been registered since the plan was launched, it is learnt.

However, this kind of accommodation is new concept in the country but the response was great, hospitality industry sources told Food & Beverage News.

Vijay Thakur, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), said, "Necessity is the mother of invention. In India we had never thought these kind of schemes can work".

The B&B Scheme is a government-citizen partnership and addresses the shortage of hotel accommodation for the Games. The scheme has been divided into two categories, Silver and Gold, classified on the basis of facilities being provided in the premises.

"We have already registered a total of 700 rooms under it, which is encouraging," government officials said.

In addition to the B&B Scheme, the tourism ministry is even forwarding the proposal of tent accommodation. These tents will be in clusters of five to six with essential amenities and modern living with emphasis on hygiene. Tourist reception centres are to be built near these clusters.