New regulations force classification of registered hotels
View(s):An industry requirement to ensure that all Sri Lankan registered hotels in the country are classified became mandatory from May 20 this year.
Issuing an Extraordinary Gazette No. 1963/28 on April 20 the government has stated that a tourist hotel upon registration should obtain classification from the Director General of the Sir Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). An idea mooted by the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) the gazette states that every registered proprietor shall ensure at all times the registered tourist hotel complies with the minimum requirements for all categories of tourist hotels specified in the rules for minimum capacities and facilities of tourist hotels.
A 7-member committee appointed by the SLTDA and THASL has been established for a period of two years. Two members of the committee will carry out inspections of the hotels and give their reference on the classification which will be determined by the Director General. The star class hotels will be reclassified every three years in this manner and during this time the said establishment would be allowed to use the approved symbol for that particular classification along with the name of the hotel. The request from the industry has taken a period of about five years for it to take effect whereby all hotels registered must obtain a star classification valid for a period of three years.
Under the classifications the mandatory requirements for one and two star categories of tourist hotels are the availability of safe deposit facilities in bed rooms; suitable glass washing facilities with running hot and cold water in restaurants and bars; and in the absence of dish washers, three sinks with hot and cold water to be made available in the kitchen. Under the three, four and five star categories hotels will be inspected on its building that should comprise of a minimum of 30 rooms including three suites for five stars; 30 rooms with two suites in four stars; and 30 rooms and one suite in three stars. As part of the main services a generator is required; and the provision of adequate number o service elevators in hotels with more than three floors.
Bed rooms must be maintained with a master key/card system with a double lock facility; keyless safety deposit locker. Under these categories the hotels must have restaurants and bars with an additional bar with either cooling or heating made available; glass washing machine; room service facility; ice cube-making machine; and five and four stars to have a 24-hour coffee shop or in-room dining. The kitchen area should have impervious materials for the floor; dish washing machine with a pre-wash sink; separate glass washing machine; cooking appliances with an exhaust hood canopy equipped with grease filters; and separated pot wash.
The stores should ensure storage of meat, sea food, processed food and dairy products be done separately at the correct temperatures. Further, in terms of sanitary requirements these categories of hotels must ensure wet garbage be stored in a temperature controlled space, with finishes conducive for easy cleaning until disposed of; and the kitchen wastewater be directed to a grease trap. Separate adequate toilet facilities for drivers; and staff should be fluent in two or more foreign languages other than English, if necessary; and the front office staff must have a good command of English, the classification requirements state.