OYO Says No To Unmarried Couples, Changes Check-In Policy With Immediate Effect

The new guidelines, effective this year, will require all couples to present valid relationship proof at the time of check-in. This will also be applicable to bookings made online.

Hospitality chain OYO has revised the check-in policies for its partner hotels. The travel booking firm launched a new check-in policy for hotels, starting from Meerut, wherein unmarried couples will not be welcome at its properties anymore.

The new guidelines, effective this year, will require all couples to present valid relationship proof at the time of check-in. This will also be applicable to bookings made online, reported PTI.

The firm said, “OYO has empowered its partner hotels' discretion to decline couple bookings based on their judgment, aligning with local social sensibility.” This directive has been issued to the company’s partner hotels in Meerut with immediate effect.

Citing people familiar with the policy revisions, the news agency said that based on ground feedback, the company might expand this policy to cover more cities.

OYO has received a lot of feedback from civil society groups in the past, specifically in Meerut, to address the issue of unmarried couples using the company’s hotels at a prompt basis. Further, residents from some other cities have also urged the company to bar unmarried couples from checking-in at OYO hotels.

Pawas Sharma, Region Head, OYO North India, said, “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 The initiative is a part of OYO's programme to transform outdated perception and project itself as a brand providing safe experience for families, students, business, religious and solo travellers.”

The company has begun pan-India initiatives like blacklisting hotels reportedly encouraging immoral activities, conduction joint seminars on safe hospitality with police and hotel partners, and taking actions against unauthorised hotels using the firm’s branding.