On 5th January, almost all major media portals reported that the hospitality chain OYO Hotels & Homes has decided to ban unmarried couples from its hotels. This caused a major stir among people as the OYO hotels are very popular among unmarried couples for its liberal policy towards unmarried couples.
Here are a few headlines from some media websites reporting that the new OYO guidelines have banned unmarried couples from their hotels.
”No room for the unmarried couples, OYO changes check-in rules”, read the News18 headline.
India Today used the headline, “ No entry to unmarried couples: OYO changes check-in rules, starting in Meerut”.
A similar headline was used by Hindustan Times which read, “OYO says no hotel rooms for unmarried couples in this city: Details here”.
Zee News also reported, “OYO changes check-in policy in this city; unmarried couples no longer allowed; here’s how to book rooms via app”.
What the revised guidelines say
Contrary to what was insinuated by the headlines of almost all the media websites, the revised check-in policy guidelines of OYO do not ban unmarried couples from making bookings in their hotels. In fact, under its revised policy, OYO has granted discretion to its partner hotels to decide on allowing or disallowing unmarried couples from making bookings in their hotels. This does not mean that OYO has banned unmarried couples from staying in their hotels. It only means that it is now up to the partner hotels whether they will allow or deny bookings to unmarried couples.
Notably, earlier OYO policy dictated that its partner hotels can’t deny rooms to unmarried couples. This made the chain popular among unmarried couples looking for some private place for intimate relations. However, now the company has revised its policy and allowed individual properties to decide whether to allow unmarried couples or not. There is no blanket ban on unmarried couples in OYO properties, as claimed by news headlines.
The new guidelines have first been rolled out for partner hotels in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. These may later be extended to other cities based on feedback.
The decision has reportedly been taken by the company after receiving feedback from civil society groups on the ground. “OYO has empowered its partner hotels’ discretion to decline couple bookings based in their judgment, aligning with local social sensibility”, the company said. According to reports, OYO has received similar requests from people in other cities as well to disallow unmarried couples from making bookings in OYO hotels.
Pawan Sharma, Region Head, OYO North India, told PTI, “ OYO is committed to upholding safe and responsible hospitality practices. While we respect individual freedoms and personal liberty, we also recognise our responsibility to listen to and work with the law enforcement and civil society groups in the micro markets we operate in. We will continue to review this policy and its impact periodically”.
The company has reportedly launched initiatives like holding joint seminars on safe hospitality with police and hotel partners, black listing hotels found to be promoting immoral activities and initiating action against unauthorised hotels using OYO branding.
