CHENNAI: Coming to the rescue of thousands of unmarried couples, a trio recently launched a website, StayUncle, which allows couples to book hotel rooms with ease. While the website has been launched in various cities like Delhi, Gurgaon Mumbai and others, Chennai is yet to be added to the list. But couples in the city seem eager to welcome the new option in their lives.
“Though Oyo Rooms are becoming popular, they have a problem with unmarried couples. If there are two consenting adults who have valid ID and want to spend time together, how is it anybody else’s business?” asks 29-year-old G Janakiraman, entrepreneur.
The fact that hotels turn away unmarried couples could also lead them to trouble, says Alekhya Kilambi, a microbiologist. “Because many hotels take the moralistic stand, they’re forcing couples to choose places that make them vulnerable,” she observes.
Many hotel staff claim that if they give rooms to unmarried couples, they fear that prostitution will also become regular. But Kilambi says it’s a poor excuse.
“Rape and prostitution will happen anyway. Not allowing consenting couples to do a simple room booking is not going to prevent anything,” she fumes.
Arun Kumar, a PhD student, attributes this attitude to the general Indian perception. “It’s the same as banning beef, atheists being denied a house or Brahmins refusing houses to meat-eaters,” he says.
S Rajendran (25) says that if we put ourselves in the hotel’s shoes, we will realise they are just following the rules given to them by their superiors, since they do not want to get police involved.
With the new website, let’s hope more hotels open up to to accommodate couples in Chennai – at least just for the the revenue!
Start-up
StayUncle , an online portal for hotel booking, was founded by Sanchit Sethi and is accessible in various major cities and yet to make its way to Chennai. Couples are allowed to book high end hotels for lesser prices but are promised safety and ‘no judgement’