KOZHIKODE: Challenging the unrelenting moral brigade of Kerala and society riddled with prejudices, hotels in Kerala have teamed up with global hotel booking app “Oyo” to allow unmarried couples to book rooms without any hassles. Though the moral police brigade in the state is yet to make a fuss over the new facility, industry experts say there is nothing illegal in the new offer. In fact, the industry is optimistic that the t ie up woul d r i n g more business. An Oyo app seach revealed that nearly 85 hotels in the state, right from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, have tied up with the online hotel booking app to help unmarried couples book rooms.
While the maximum number of hotels could be found in Ernakulam, there are no hotels listed from Kasargod, Malappuram, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta. “Oyo introduced the facility recently and they have specifically briefed the hotels about the relationship- mode category wherein rooms should be allotted to customers who book through their apps. We have also been directed to verify the ID proof of the couple to ensure that none of them is minor,” said general manager of a leading hotel. Kerala Hotel and Restuarant Association secretary Reji C Kuriakose said there is nothing illegal in providing rooms to unmarried couples.
“The hotels need to col lect ID proof of both the guests and enter their names in the registry. People land in trouble only when they try to furnish false details,” he said. Many of the classified hotels have not tied up with Oyo because they are looking for budget hotels which charge around Rs 1,500 per day. According to a senior executive of a hotel in Kochi, it was a revolutionary decision. “Earlier, hotels would hesitate to accommodate unmarried couples. There will be a lot embarrassing questions. The new facility will ease things for sure,” he said.