Indian hotels and their rating system

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You can find the entire article from the Ministry of Tourism’s website here: https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-02/1667476361.pdf

D= Desirable | N = Necessary
FACILITIES & SERVICES	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*/ 5*D	COMMENTS
GENERAL
Full time operation 7 days a week in season	N	N	N	N	N
Establishment to have all necessary trading licenses / Permissions	N	N	N	N	N
Establishment to have public liability insurance	D	D	D	D	D
24hr. lifts for buildings higher than ground plus two floors	N	N	N	N	N	Mandatory for all hotels. Local laws may require a relaxation of this condition.  Easy access for the differently abled guests.
Bedrooms,  Bathrooms,	N	N	N	N	N
Public areas and kitchen fully services daily
All floor surfaces clean and in good shape	N	N	N	N	N	Floor may be of any type.
GUEST ROOM
Minimum 10 lettable rooms, all rooms with outside windows / ventilation.	N	N	N	N	N
Minimum size of bedroom excluding bathroom in sq.ft.	120	120	130	140	200	Rooms should not be less than the specified size. The area may include the vestibule and other covered area within the room but exclude outdoor verandah/ balcony. Single occupancy rooms may be 20 sq.ft. less.
Air – conditioning – % of Rooms	25%	25%	50%	100%	100%	Air –conditioning / heating depends on climatic conditions and architecture. Room Temperature should be between 20 to 28 degree Celsius.
A clean change of bed and bath linen daily and between check –in	N	N	N	N	N	Definitely required between each check – in. On alternate days for 1 & 2 Star category hotels.
Guest linen						Good quality linen to be provided.
Minimum bed  width for single 90 cm and double180 cm.	D	N	N	N	N
Mattress thickness minimum 10 cm	D	D	N	N	N	Coir, foam or spring foam
Minimum bedding 2 sheets, pillow and case, blanket, mattress protector / bed cover	N	N	N	N	N	Blankets available in air conditioned room as per seasonal requirement in non
						A/C rooms. Mattress protector is ‘desirable’ in 1 Star and 2 Star category hotels and ‘necessary’ for the other categories.
Suite (2 rooms or 2 roombays having a bedroom and separate sitting area, having one bathroom and one	D	D	D	N	N	Minimum 1 suite. A suite must be sold as one room.
powder room. )
Hairdryers	D	D	N	N	N	Where not provided in bathroom, must be available on request.
						3 Star, 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe category hotels shall provide hair dryer facility in the room on complimentary basis. In 1 Star and 2 Star hotels, this facility will be made available on request on complimentary basis.
Safe keeping / in room safe	D	D	D	N	N	1,2, and 3 Star hotels to have facilities for safe keeping in the reception.
						All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe hotels shall provide a safe in the room.
Mini bar / Fridge	D	D	N	N	N	Contents must conform to local laws.
All 3 Star hotels shall have facility of a mini fridge and all 4 Star, 5 Star, and 5 Star Deluxe hotels shall have a the facility of mini bar.
Drinking water with minimum one glass per guest.	N	N	N	N	N	All star category hotels to provide 2 sealed bottles of branded packaged drinking water of minimum 500 ml per person per day on complimentary basis. Ultra violet treated water will not be acceptable.
Shelves / drawer space	N	N	N	N	N	Necessary for hotels of 1,2 and 3 Star category to have a wardrobe.
Wardrobe with minimum 4 clothes hangers per bedding	N	N	N	N	N	In one star or two star hotels, this may be without doors.
Sufficient lighting (1 lamp per bed)	N	N	N	N	N
A 5 amp earthed power	N	N	N	N	N
socket
A bedside table and drawer	N	N	N	N	N	1 per twin bed and two for a double bed.
TV Cable if available	D	D	N	N	N	TV must  have a remote. Exception: for eco and nature resorts TV cable is not mandatory for 3 Star to 5 Star Deluxe category hotels. However, it is mandatory that they provide a television with cable in the lobby or other common area.
A  writing  surface  with	D	D	N	N	N
sufficient lighting
Chairs	N	N	N	N	N	Preferably one per bed
Waste paper basket	N	N	N	N	N
Opaque curtains or screening at all windows	N	N	N	N	N	All 4 Star, 5 Star, and 5 Star Deluxe hotels shall have blackout curtains
A mirror at least half length (3 ft.)	N	N	N	N	N
A stationary folder containing stationary	D	D	N	N	N
A ‘do not disturb’ notice	N	N	N	N	N
Night spread / bed cover	N	N	N	N	N
Energy saving lighting	N	N	N	N	N
Linen Room	N	N	N	N	N	Should be well ventilated
BATHROOM
Number  of  rooms  with	All	All	All	All	All	All bathrooms to have a sanitary bin with lid.
attached bathrooms
Minimum size of bathroom in square feet	30	30	36	36	45	25% of bathrooms in 1 &2 Star hotels to have western style WC.
						For hotels built before 1.1.2012, the Minimum bathroom size may be relaxed by 10% (to be rounded off to the next integer) provided the total size of the room and the bathroom taken together are as follows: 1 Star & 2 Star – 150 sq. ft., 3 Star-166 sq. ft.,  4 Star – 176 sq. ft., 5 Star & 5 Star Deluxe – 245 sq. ft.
1 bath towel and 1 hand towel to be provided per guest	N	N	N	N	N
Bath Mat	D	D	N	N	N
Guest toiletries to be provided. Minimum 1 new soap per guest.	N	N	N	N	N	Quality products depending on Star category.
Bottled toiletry products to be provided.	D	D	D	N	N
Clothes – hooks in each bath / shower room	N	N	N	N	N	All star category hotels shall provide two (2) clothes hooks in the bath / shower room
Sanitary bin	N	N	N	N	N	These must be covered
Each western WC toilet to have a seat with lid and toilet paper.	N	N	N	N	N
All Star hotels shall provide water sprays or bidets or washlets or other modern water based post- toilet – paper hygiene facilities.	N	N	N	N	N
Floors and walls to have non – porous surfaces	N	N	N	N	N
Hot and Cold running water available 24 hours	N	N	N	N	N
Shower cabin	N	N	N	N	N	A shower with shower curtain will suffice where shower cabin is not available.
Bath tubs				D	D
Water  saving  taps  and showers	N	N	N	N	N
Energy saving lighting	N	N	N	N	N
PUBLIC AREA
Lounge or seating area in the lobby	N	N	N	N	N	Lobby shall have furniture and fixtures which shall include chairs / arm chairs, sofa, tables and fresh floral display.
						Door man on duty for 4 star categories and below 4 star categories, the presence of a door man on duty in the lounge or sitting area in the lobby shall not be mandatory. However, in such areas, the presence of staff on duty shall be obligatory around the clock
Reception facility	N	N	N	N	N	Manned minimum 16 hours. Call service 24 hours. Local directions to hotel including city street maps to be available.
Valet (parking) services to be available	D	D	N	N	N
Availability of Room, F&B	N	N	N	N	N
and other tariff
Heating and cooling to be provided in public areas	–	–	–	N	N	Temperatures to be between 20 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius.
						Air – conditioning in common areas like lobby, restaurants, verandahs, bar where they are open to nature on one or more sides, shall not be mandatory for beach, lake, backwater, river, hill, mountain, forest or nature hotels & Resorts.
Public rest rooms for ladies and gents, a wash basin with running hot and cold water, a mirror, a sanitary bin with lid in unisex 7 ladies toilet.	N	N	N	N	N
ROOM AND FACILITIES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED GUEST
At least one room for the differently abled guest	N	N	N	N	N	The room shall have low height furniture, low peep hole, cupboard with low clothe hangers, audible and visible (blinking light) alarm system and doorbell.
						The almirah / cupboard doors in the differently abled room should be sliding to enable opening the same by the differently abled person.
						Blinking light in the room and bathroom should also be connected with the door bell for the hearing impaired.
						Cordless telephone in the room. Direct calling facility to the front desk or operator.
Bathroom	N	N	N	N	N	Door width for room of the differently abled persons and bathroom of such rooms should allow easy accessibility of wheel chair made available by the hotel).
						For new hotels coming up after 01.04.2017, the minimum door width of such rooms and their bathroom shall be minimum 90 cm.
						The door width of the room and bathroom for differently abled persons in existing hotels shall be 90 cm. with effect from 01.04.2023
						Bathroom for the differently abled guest shall have suitable fixtures like low wash basin with wheel chair accessibility, low vanity unit, Wall mounted seat in shower area, hand shower, Grab bars net to the WC and shower area.
Ramps with anti-slip floors at the entrance. Minimum door width should  be one meter to allow wheel chair access	N	N	N	N	N	Fixed and anti – slip ramp to be provided in all public areas.
						Free accessibility in all public areas, and to at least one restaurant in 5 star and 5 star deluxe hotel.
Public Restrooms	N	N	N	N	N	All star category hotels should have a public restroom for differently abled guests (unisex) with minimum door width which allows easy accessibility of wheel chair (made available by the hotel). Low height urinal with grab bars.
						For new hotels coming up after 01.04.2017, the minimum door width of such public rest room (unisex) shall be minimum 90 cm.
						For existing hotels, the minimum door width of public restroom (unisex) shall be mandatory after
						01.04.2023
FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS
1 Star & 2 Star						1 & 2 Star categories should have minimum one dining room serving all meals.
3 Star Category						One  Multi  –  cuisine
						Restaurant cum Coffee Shop open from 07.00 am. To 11.00 pm. And 24 hr. Room Service.
4 Star category (with alcohol service or with no alcohol service)						Grade A cities:
						One  Multi  –  cuisine
						Restaurant cum Coffee Shop open from 07.00 am. To 11.00 pm., one specialty Restaurant and 24 hr. Room Service.
						The specialty Restaurant may either be indoors with airconditioning, or outdoors. The Specialty Restaurant must serve specific form of cuisine. The Specialty Restaurant may be open for lunch / dinner.
						Cities other than grade A cities:
						One  Multi  –  cuisine
						Restaurant cum Coffee Shop open from 07.00 am. To 11.00 pm. and 24 hr. Room Service.
5  Star  category  (with alcohol service or with no alcohol service) and						Grade A cities:
5 Star Deluxe
						One 24 hour Multi Cuisine Restaurant cum Coffee Shop, one Specialty Restaurant and 24 hr. Room Service.
						The Specialty Restaurant may either be indoors with air – conditioning, or outdoors. The Specialty restaurant must serve specific form of cuisine. The Specialty Restaurant may be open for lunch / dinner.
						Cities other than Grade A cities:
						One 24 hour Multi Cuisine Restaurant cum Coffee Shop and 24 hr. Room Service. One Specialty Restaurant would be desirable.
Crockery and glassware	N	N	N	N	N	Plastic ware acceptable in pool area.
Cutlery to be at least	N	N	N	N	N	All category hotel should see good quality metal cutlery. Aluminum cutlery is prohibited.
stainless steel
Bar	D	D	D	N	N	Bar will not be mandatory wherever bar licence is prohibited as per local law.
						Wherever bar is allowed as per local law, the hotel will have to first obtain bar license before applying to the Ministry of Tourism for Classification of the hotel.
						Liquor shops/ liquor stores will not be considered while granting classification under ‘with alcohol’ category.
KITCHEN / FOOD PRODUCTION AREA
Refrigerator  with  deep	N	N	N	N	N	Capacity based on quantum of F&B Operations.
freezer
Segregated storage of meat, fish and vegetables	N	N	N	N	N	Meat, fish and vegetables to be kept in separate freezers
Tiled walls, non slip floors	N	N	N	N	N
Colour coded synthetic chopping boards	N	N	N	N	N	Wooden chopping boards
Head  covering  for	N	N	N	N	N
production staff
Daily germicidal cleaning of floors	N	N	N	N	N
Good  quality  cooking	N	N	N	N	N	Use of aluminum vessels is prohibited except for bakery
vessels / utensils
All food grade equipment containers.	N	N	N	N	N
Drinking water	N	N	N	N	N	Water  treated  with  UV+ filtration
Ventilation system	N	N	N	N	N
Garbage to be segregated – wet and dry	N	N	N	N	N	To encourage recycling
Wet garbage area to be airconditioned.	D	D	N	N	N
Receiving areas and stores distinct from garbage area.	N	N	N	N	N	Should have sink with table surface, weighing machine. quality control and pre wash area.H154
Six monthly medical check ups for production staff	N	N	N	N	N	Records to be submitted along with pathological records to HRACC during inspection of the hotel
First aid training for all kitchen staff	N	N	N	N	N
Pest control	N	N	N	N	N	Record to be shown to the HRACC during inspection of the hotel
STAFF
Staff uniforms for front of the house.	N	N	N	N	N	Uniforms to be clean and in good condition.
English  speaking  front	D	D	N	N	N	This may be relaxed outside the metros / sub-metros for 1 Star and 2 Star category hotels.
office staff
Percentage of Supervisory staff	20%	20%	40%	40%	80%	Hotels of 4 Star category and above should have qualified Heads of Departments.
						The supervisory or the skilled staff may have training or skill certification as follows:
						Degree / Diploma from Central or Star IHMs/ FCIs or from NCHMCT affiliated IHMs or from other reputed Hospitality Schools.
Percentage of skilled staff	20%	20%	30%	30%	60%	The supervisory or the skilled staff may have t raining or skill certification as follows:
						Degree / Diploma from Central or Star IHMs/ FCIs or from NCHMCT affiliated IHMs or from other reputed Hospitality Schools.
						Skill training certificate issued under the guidelines and scheme of the Ministry of Tourism
STAFF WELFARE FACILITIES
Staff Rest Rooms	D	D	N	N	N	Separate for male and female employees, with bunk beds. Rooms should be well lighted
						and ventilated
Staff locker Rooms	D	D	N	N	N
Toilet facilities	N	N	N	N	N	Full length mirror, hand dryer with liquid soap dispenser
Separate Dining area &	D	D	N	N	N
Facility
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SAFE & HONOURABLE TOURISM
Display of pledge	N	N	N	N	N	Pledge to be displayed prominently in  the staff/ back areas / office premises of all the Heads of Departments (HODs)
Training for ‘Code of Conduct for safe &	N	N	N	N	N	At time of Joining (orientation programme and subsequent in – house training)
Honourable Tourism’
Maintenance of Action Taken Report with regards to compliance of the provisions of the Code.	N	N	N	N	N	Signatories of the ‘Code of Conduct’ to maintain record of action taken in compliance of the provisions of the code.
Focal points / Nodal officers	N	N	N	N	N	Two nodal officers to be nominated (from HRD and
						Security side etc.) for hotel with more than 25 personnel and one focal point for hotel with less than 25 personnel.
GUEST SERVICES
Provision for wheelchair for the differently abled guest	N	N	N	N	N	Wheel chair to be made available on complimentary basis in hotels of all categories.
Valet (parking) services to be available	D	D	N	N	N
Dry cleaning / laundry	D	D	D	N	N	In house for 5 Star Deluxe hotels. For 5 Star category and below, may be outsourced.
Tea / coffee making facility in the room	D	D	D	N	N	Tea / coffee making facilities in the room to be made available on complimentary basis in all 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe hotels.
Iron and Iron Board facility	N	N	N	N	N	Each hotel up to the level of 4 star to have a number of irons and ironing board equal to 20% of the number of lettable rooms, to be provided to a resident guest on request. 5 star and 5 star deluxe hotels to have iron and ironing board in every lettable room.
Paid transportation on call	D	D	N	N	N	Guest should be able to travel from hotel
Shoe cleaning shoe horn & slippers	D	D	D	N	N	Free facility to be provided for in house guest
Ice (from drinking water) on demand	D	D	N	N	N	Complimentary on request
Acceptance of common credit cards and facility/ infrastructure for accepting/ making payments by digital transactions	N	N	N	N	N
Assistance with luggage on request	N	N	N	N	N
A public telephone on premises. Unit charges made known	D	D	N	N	N	There should be at least one telephone no higher than 24” from floor level in 5 and 5 Star
						Deluxe  (to  also  cater  to
						differently abled guest)
Wake – up call service on request	N	N	N	N	N
Messages for guests to be recorded and delivered	N	N	N	N	N	A  prominently  displayed message board will suffice for 1 & 2 Star Categories
Name address and telephone number of	N	N	N	N	N	Doctor on call in 3,4,5 & 5 Star Deluxe
doctors with front desk
Stamps  and  mailing	D	D	D	D	D
facilities
Newspapers available	D	D	D	N	N	This may be placed in the lounge for 1,2,& 3 Star hotels
Access  to  travel  desk	N	N	N	N	N	This need not be on the premise for 1,2&3 Star categories
facilities
Left luggage facilities	D	D	N	N	N	This must be in a well secured room / 24 hours manned area. All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe hotels shall provide luggage racks, portable or fixed, for two large suitcases. This will be stated on the hotel’s website under the head ‘Facilities and
						Amenities provided on complimentary basis’ and mentioned to guest while checking in.
Provision for emergency supplies toiletries / first aid kit	D	D	N	N	N
Health  –  Fitness  and	D	D	D	D	N	Indian system of treatments should preferably be offered
Barber’s Shop
Beauty Salon and Barber’s Shop	D	D	D	D	D
Florist	D	D	D	D	D
Utility shop / kiosk	D	D	D	D	D	The presence of a utility kiosk / shop will not be a mandatory condition for classification under 1 to 5 Star Deluxe categories. NO separate book shop shall be necessary.
Money changing facilities	D	D	D	D	D	Money changing facility to be made available.
SAFETY & SECURITY
Metal detectors (door frame or hand held)	D	D	N	N	N
CCTV at strategic location	N	N	N	N	N
X-Ray Machine	D	D	D	D	N	For 5 Star Deluxe  category, it would be ‘Necessary’ to have an x-ray machine at the guest entrance for screening of baggage Manual check may be conducted for staff and suppliers at designated entry points.
Under belly scanners to screen vehicles.	D	D	D	N	N
Verification	N	N	N	N	N	All hotels should conduct antecedent verification of their staff and suppliers by the Police / private security.
Staff trained in firefighting Drill	N	N	N	N	N	All hotels to conduct periodic fire drills and maintain
						‘Manuals’  for  disaster management, First Aid and Fire Safety
Security arrangements for all hotels entrances.	N	N	N	N	N
Each bedroom door to be fitted with lock and key, viewport / peephole & internal securing device.	D	D	N	N	N	A safety chain / wishbone latch is acceptable in place of viewport / peephole.
Smoke Detectors	N	N	N	N	N	These can be battery operated.
Fire and Emergency alarms should have visual & audible signals.	N	N	N	N	N
First aid kit with over the counter medicines at the	N	N	N	N	N
front desk
Fire Exit Signs on guest floors with emergency / backup power.	N	N	N	N	N
COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
Telephone facility within arm’s reach of the toilet seat	D	D	D	N	N
Provide at least two multi – purpose sockets	N	N	N	N	N	All Star hotels shall provide at least two multi-purpose sockets
						capable of handling US,  European Community and
						Japanese plugs at or just above the table level. It should be possible for guest to charge a laptop and cell phone simultaneously. This condition shall be applicable to all new hotels that will start operating from 01.04.2016.
						For the hotels which have come into operation before 31.03.2016 this parameter will be applicable from 01.04.2022. However, till such time  as this facility is
						provided on a permanent basis, it will be mandatory for all Star hotels to provide multi-socket adapter plugs on request.
A telephone for incoming & outgoing calls in the room	D	N	N	N	N	4 star and above should have direct dialing and STD / ISD facilities. 1,2 and 3 Star category hotels may go through a telephone exchange.
PC available for guest use with internet access	D	D	N	N	N	This can be a paid service. Upto 3 Star, PC can be in the executive offices, Internet subject to local access being available.
E-mail service	D	D	N	N	N	Subject to local internet access being available.
Fax, photocopy and printing Services.	N	N	N	N	N
In room Internet / wi-fi connection	D	D	D	N	N	Subject to local internet access being available. Wi-Fi wherever possible.
Business Centre	D	D	D	N	N	This should be a dedicated area.
						(This provision may be relaxed for resort destinations, tourist and pilgrimage centers).
Swimming Pool	D	D	D	D	N	This can be relaxed for hill destinations. Mandatory to have trained Life Guard, Board containing Do’s and Don’ts, No Diving sign, pool depth etc. should be displayed at a strategic location in the pool area.
						All 4 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe hotels shall provide a luminous LED wall clock with numerals of three inches or more on display near their swimming pools
Parking Facilities	D	D	N	N	N	Should be adequate in relation to the number of rooms & banquet / convention hall capacity.
						Exclusively  earmarked accessible parking nearest to the entrance for differently abled guest.
Conference Facilities.	D	D	D	D	N
ECO FRIENDLY PRACTICES
Sewage Treatment Plant	N	N	N	N	N	A Sewage Treatment Plant will not be a mandatory condition for hotels which have obtained completion certificate for construction before  01.04.2012.
Rain Water Harvesting	N	N	N	N	N
Waste management	N	N	N	N	N
Pollution control methods for air, water and light	N	N	N	N	N
Introduction of non CFC equipment for refrigeration and air conditioning and other Eco-friendly measures / initiatives.	N	N	N	N	N