Crackdown On Illegal Hotels, Guesthouses

[george]

THA, BMTA to target illegal hotels

By Suchat Sritama

The Nation

Published on October 6, 2010

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Hotels Association (THA) in conjunction with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will survey hotels in 24 districts to force illegal operators to comply with the lodging law implemented in 2008.

The association also plans to ask the Interior Ministry to help enforce the hotel law, since many pseudohotels are providing substandard service and security, and hurting the hotel industry's image.

After Bangkok, the campaign will go to Phuket, Samui and Chiang Mai.

Charoen Nudpobsuk, vice president of the THA, said after the group's meeting yesterday that more than 40 per cent of all hotels, with some 100,000 rooms, were operating illegally.

Indirect hotels are guesthouses, residences, serviced apartments, dormitories and accommodations offering daily rentals. Such quasihotels have been stealing guests from registered hotels because they can offer very low rates. Most of them rent rooms through online channels.

According to THA figures, international visitor numbers reached forecasts over the past three years, but the average occupancy rate at its member hotels dropped gradually by 20 per cent per year.

Occupancy at threestar hotels in 2008 was 60 per cent but fell to 50 per cent during the first seven months of this year, while the average at fourstar hotels slipped from 66 per cent to 49 per cent.

Fivestar hotels also experienced a similar drop, from 62 per cent in the last three years to 46 per cent in the first seven months of this year.

"If we look at the visitor numbers, they remained at 14 million arrivals per year. However, hotels saw fewer customers and less income," Charoen said.

In Bangkok alone, only 299 hotels are officially registered, with a total of 58,820 rooms, while 169 are indirect operators with more than 48,000 rooms.

"THA estimates that more than 100,000 rooms across the country are not conforming to the hotel law," he said.

Wrong statistics may cause new investors to make bad decisions, while operators are at risk of losing business if they invest based on incorrect figures.

"The tourism industry has been in error for years because every figure cannot be trusted," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-10-06

[RedQualia]

By all means, let's drive out the cheap hotels and guesthouses so that customers are forced into the more expensive places. Why let rooms be rented for 500 baht per night when 2,000 should be possible? This will certainly increase the profits of the few, thereby benefiting tourism in Thailand, and indeed, throughout SE Asia over the long run.

[rubl]

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Hotels Association (THA) in conjunction with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will survey hotels in 24 districts to force illegal operators to comply with the lodging law implemented in 2008.

The association also plans to ask the Interior Ministry to help enforce the hotel law, since many pseudohotels are providing substandard service and security, and hurting the hotel industry's image.

Maybe some tourists have come to realise that the official hotels only offer the steep price, but not the service. Horrible, can't have that type of competition

[nikster]

This is crazy. Chances are the Thai Hotel Association directly paid for that 2008 law too. Cunning!! Take out the cheap competition!

Thankfully, as with all "crackdowns" in this country, it will blow over and be all forgotten about in 3 weeks.

[Ricardo]

Horrors ... they offer "very low rates", and sell over the internet, and thus steal guests from registered hotels. Are there no depths, to which these people will stoop, in their efforts to meet the paying-customers' needs ?

[geriatrickid]

Why all the negative comments? Aren't you also the same people that scream about the lack of safety standards? Hello??? Earth to vapid heads.

The registered and licensed hotels have most likely invested in following some form of fire and life safety code. If it's a major brand, alot of money was spent on the installation of function smoke & heat detectors, fire alarms and function firehoses. Do you think any of the illegal operators care anything about keeping fire exits unlocked or a smoke detector? If you want the staff to wash their hands after taking a crap then you need to provide soap in the staff bathrooms. Do you think that the illegal hotels do that? They do at Sheraton, Centera etc. The illegal hotels are not paying taxes and are taking advantage of municipal services whereas the licensed establishments are paying an inflated rate which is subsidizing the illegal operators.

[GiantFan]

Horrors ... they offer "very low rates", and sell over the internet, and thus steal guests from registered hotels. Are there no depths, to which these people will stoop, in their efforts to meet the paying-customers' needs ?

Right On! You took the words right out of my mouth.

[innerspace]

Dropping occupancy levels..... wouldn't have anything to do with a global recession or coming close to a civil war would it?

Oh no, its the people who offer tourists what they want.

IF they did properly enforce this, which is unlikely, it wouldn't increase occupancy in the licensed places, just drop tourism levels lower than they already are.

[HerbalEd]

By all means, let's drive out the cheap hotels and guesthouses so that customers are forced into the more expensive places. Why let rooms be rented for 500 baht per night when 2,000 should be possible? This will certainly increase the profits of the few, thereby benefiting tourism in Thailand, and indeed, throughout SE Asia over the long run.

Yes, indeed! Who cares if these illegal hotels are not regulated and don't conform to health and safety standards. Cheap is far better than safety.

[otherstuff1957]

Remember the changing demographics of tourists coming to Thailand: Fewer Euro/Americans & more Chinese/Arab/Indians & Russians. Generally speaking, the new tourists are going to spend less money. They are less likely to stay at a 4 or 5 star hotel & will usually go to cheaper restaurants and guesthouses.

[grantbkk]

So this isn't a thread about a Thai hotel association using officials to chase away non-members or guesthouses operating illegally? Isn't there already a well worn thread about racism?

[farang101]

Again I risk being belittled by any writing here but i am asking for a long time about this situation at my condo and every reply was they can

rent short time if they want to here by people who wrote in

now for once I see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel to stop this abuse of my home,

yes that is right, people who don't live or own, renting their rooms by the day to people who do not care

about the property is an abuse of the common areas and makes life worst than it would be if

people lived in this condo who owned it and kept it safe, clean and habitable.

The Farangs that have been renting are usually here for the day to use the facilities and make a mess

and no one seems to give a S__t/

Does anyone know how I can reach this Agency to let them know and see if they can stop it?

Yes I can google it, yes i can look in the yellow pages,

you smart A's who respond to these emails belittling people for questions and responses make life harder

to be involved in this forum, but maybe if it doesn't kill us it makes us stronger to

deal with what crap comes this way eh?

cheers

By all means, let's drive out the cheap hotels and guesthouses so that customers are forced into the more expensive places. Why let rooms be rented for 500 baht per night when 2,000 should be possible? This will certainly increase the profits of the few, thereby benefiting tourism in Thailand, and indeed, throughout SE Asia over the long run.

[Dissolution]

And here I always thought Nasa was a crummy short-time hotel situated in a slummy district. Apparently it's a luxury hotel used by business travelers.

[bkk_mike]

It's laughable... - They trust the arrivals figures from the government, and so when they see lower occupancy, they assume the problem is fake hotels taking their guests.

Isn't the issue more likely to be that the arrivals figures are rather artificial. Anyone landing at the airport in the last few months knows that the queues are shorter...

[BlackJack]

funny how you lot can turn this forum into something it is not

just goes to show what guppy brains you have and how easily side tracked you are

Pattaya didnt seem to be on the list

I can say that if you are a condo owner and the THais control the committee then they will allow the renting of rooms in the building. Even though they dont adhere to the Condo Act, the Hotel Act, or any other act.

There are problems with insurance to as if theres a problem and a claim needs to be made and the building was being used as a hotel then your claims are null and void

If you own a condo then it is up to you to write to the appropriate people to alert them to the fact that your condo is not complying with the Acts

[Eureka]

Why all the negative comments? Aren't you also the same people that scream about the lack of safety standards? Hello??? Earth to vapid heads.

The registered and licensed hotels have most likely invested in following some form of fire and life safety code. If it's a major brand, alot of money was spent on the installation of function smoke & heat detectors, fire alarms and function firehoses. Do you think any of the illegal operators care anything about keeping fire exits unlocked or a smoke detector? If you want the staff to wash their hands after taking a crap then you need to provide soap in the staff bathrooms. Do you think that the illegal hotels do that? They do at Sheraton, Centera etc. The illegal hotels are not paying taxes and are taking advantage of municipal services whereas the licensed establishments are paying an inflated rate which is subsidizing the illegal operators.

Thai Hotels Association is a private orginization established in 1963 to promote tourism and profit for it's members.

They are merely sayiny that if you are not a member of their PRIVATE ASSOCIATION then you must be breaking the law.

Maybe it is true (or not) that members of the Thai Hotel Association have higher standards but it does not automatically guarantee that hotels not under their regime are ALL substandard.

This is purely and simplely a case of a Private Association trying to justify their member fees by making broad and misleading accusations.

[iono]

funny how you lot can turn this forum into something it is not

just goes to show what guppy brains you have and how easily side tracked you are

Pattaya didnt seem to be on the list

I can say that if you are a condo owner and the THais control the committee then they will allow the renting of rooms in the building. Even though they dont adhere to the Condo Act, the Hotel Act, or any other act.

There are problems with insurance to as if theres a problem and a claim needs to be made and the building was being used as a hotel then your claims are null and void

If you own a condo then it is up to you to write to the appropriate people to alert them to the fact that your condo is not complying with the Acts

Why not turn it into something else, I mean really we all pretty much know the reason for most news and problems in Thailand, someone with money is A@@ hurt and instead of facing facts as to the reason for the downturn or main issue they put blame on an easy competitive target that is not assisting in their bottom line, same story over an over again...so the racist thing is much more fun...

[TAWP]

Don't tell me white people have never been a problem before - so they fit a profile too. How about Jews or Thai's ya them Thai's oh them red Thai for sure can be real bad to. If they can't handle the hotel business then close the door and go farming or something.

It is really hard to argue with someone that isn't interested in understanding what is written.

Yes, I know of white teens that drink too much in Spain, Greece etc and some places might now refuse lodging larger groups of them. As is their right. So what?

[pattayabuggy]

Why all the negative comments? Aren't you also the same people that scream about the lack of safety standards? Hello??? Earth to vapid heads.

The registered and licensed hotels have most likely invested in following some form of  fire and life safety code. If it's a major brand, alot of money was spent on the installation of function smoke & heat detectors, fire alarms and function  firehoses. Do you think any of the illegal operators care anything about keeping fire exits unlocked or a smoke detector? If you want the staff to wash their hands after taking a crap then you need to provide soap in the staff bathrooms. Do you think that the  illegal hotels do that? They do at Sheraton, Centera etc.   The illegal hotels are not paying taxes and are taking advantage of municipal services whereas the licensed establishments are paying an inflated rate which is subsidizing the  illegal operators.

July 11,1997, a fire at Royal Jomtien Resort at Jomtien Beach, 91 people died, the fire exits were locked!

[pisico]

<br />But where will the Blacks and Indians kick out of these good hotels go then.<br /><br />"The association also plans to ask the Interior Ministry to help enforce  the hotel law, since many pseudohotels are providing substandard service  and security, and hurting the hotel industry's image."<br /><br />Maybe the image would improve if people are not kicked to the street for being the wrong color.  <br /><br />

<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Dude: I am really sorry that it happened to you. Thais are Xenophobic by nature after having to change the location of their country's capital 3 times due to Burmese invasions and ransacking. They dealt with that impending danger for hundreds of years.

They have a dual price system: one for foreigners and another for Thais. To them, that is OK.

FYI

Thailand has in the Web page of their Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specific rules about some African countries whose citizens cannot even apply for a tourist visa. They are persona non grata. This stems from the fact that countries, such as Nigeria, has an enormous incidence of scammers, in person, on the internet and in every conceivable way. Police have for many years arrested Africans for a variety of reasons: theft, hooliganism, pimping, drug smuggling and distribution, ATM, scams and miscellaneous other transgressions. To say as a defense that whites also do that, does not exonerate the Africans.

Africans have not done a favor to themselves by being just tourists. Most feel they have "special rights". I do not like it anymore than you do. Bottom line: it is their country. If we do not like the way they run it, we have two options:1-take it in stride without trying to Americanize them. 2- Do not to be here and take your business elsewhere. Very sorry you had to go through that experience. Maybe next time, you can say right off the bat that you are an American, not African. If you learn to say that in Thai will open even more doors to you.

[Rooo]

Off topic posts removed.

[pgangeles]

Why all the negative comments? Aren't you also the same people that scream about the lack of safety standards? Hello??? Earth to vapid heads.

The registered and licensed hotels have most likely invested in following some form of fire and life safety code. If it's a major brand, alot of money was spent on the installation of function smoke & heat detectors, fire alarms and function firehoses. Do you think any of the illegal operators care anything about keeping fire exits unlocked or a smoke detector? If you want the staff to wash their hands after taking a crap then you need to provide soap in the staff bathrooms. Do you think that the illegal hotels do that? They do at Sheraton, Centera etc. The illegal hotels are not paying taxes and are taking advantage of municipal services whereas the licensed establishments are paying an inflated rate which is subsidizing the illegal operators.

Thai Hotels Association is a private orginization established in 1963 to promote tourism and profit for it's members.

They are merely sayiny that if you are not a member of their PRIVATE ASSOCIATION then you must be breaking the law.

Maybe it is true (or not) that members of the Thai Hotel Association have higher standards but it does not automatically guarantee that hotels not under their regime are ALL substandard.

This is purely and simplely a case of a Private Association trying to justify their member fees by making broad and misleading accusations.

Why would you agree to allow even a handful of substandard illigal houses to exsist. One fire killing X number of people because they weren't equipped with smoke detectors or fire alarms is NOT ACCEPTABLE..

[spiderleghead]

By all means, let's drive out the cheap hotels and guesthouses so that customers are forced into the more expensive places. Why let rooms be rented for 500 baht per night when 2,000 should be possible? This will certainly increase the profits of the few, thereby benefiting tourism in Thailand, and indeed, throughout SE Asia over the long run.

are you being sarcastic?

without the cheaper rooms the money that is payed just lines the pockets of the already ample rich people of this country. at least with the cheaper less nice venues, some local people actually make some cash. and it is up to the tourist who wants to stay to look at the place and decide for themselves.

[pgangeles]

By all means, let's drive out the cheap hotels and guesthouses so that customers are forced into the more expensive places. Why let rooms be rented for 500 baht per night when 2,000 should be possible? This will certainly increase the profits of the few, thereby benefiting tourism in Thailand, and indeed, throughout SE Asia over the long run.

are you being sarcastic?

without the cheaper rooms the money that is payed just lines the pockets of the already ample rich people of this country. at least with the cheaper less nice venues, some local people actually make some cash. and it is up to the tourist who wants to stay to look at the place and decide for themselves.

Do you really believe that a tourist who just got off the plane at 11PM tired and hungry, is capable of assessing the safety of the accommodations. Get real.

[fstarbkk]

Why all the negative comments? Aren't you also the same people that scream about the lack of safety standards? Hello??? Earth to vapid heads.

The registered and licensed hotels have most likely invested in following some form of fire and life safety code. If it's a major brand, alot of money was spent on the installation of function smoke & heat detectors, fire alarms and function firehoses. Do you think any of the illegal operators care anything about keeping fire exits unlocked or a smoke detector? If you want the staff to wash their hands after taking a crap then you need to provide soap in the staff bathrooms. Do you think that the illegal hotels do that? They do at Sheraton, Centera etc. The illegal hotels are not paying taxes and are taking advantage of municipal services whereas the licensed establishments are paying an inflated rate which is subsidizing the illegal operators.

I think you are making a lot of assumptions here. I have personally seen blatant fire safety violations in "real" hotels all around Bangkok. Some of the big international brands maintain high standards, not because the Thai laws force them to, but because it's part of their brand. Local operators, official or unofficial, cut corners wherever they can, which is almost everywhere. That's my experience at least.

[Portlandstone]

Would like to sincerely thank all the moderators who cleaned up this thread. Hardly anything worse than the "hang em high" comments and the posts that are there to promote PC, the latter of which this thread unnecessarily had. Thank you!

[swerver]

Would like to sincerely thank all the moderators who cleaned up this thread. Hardly anything worse than the "hang em high" comments and the posts that are there to promote PC, the latter of which this thread unnecessarily had. Thank you!

Now that we are on the end I like to put in my 2-cents worth,

Im familiar with a few of the what are referred to as Budget Hotels which none of the above did included, they stopped at 3-star.

The Budget Hotels I happen to know inform me that their occupancy rate has dropped from 60% to presently 30%.

So were are the customers?

Either the listed arrival numbers are pumped up or as has happen before the customers arrive and move on to other destination in Thailand withpout stopping in Bangkok.

[tomyummer]

Why all the negative comments? Aren't you also the same people that scream about the lack of safety standards? Hello??? Earth to vapid heads.

The registered and licensed hotels have most likely invested in following some form of fire and life safety code. If it's a major brand, alot of money was spent on the installation of function smoke & heat detectors, fire alarms and function firehoses. Do you think any of the illegal operators care anything about keeping fire exits unlocked or a smoke detector? If you want the staff to wash their hands after taking a crap then you need to provide soap in the staff bathrooms. Do you think that the illegal hotels do that? They do at Sheraton, Centera etc. The illegal hotels are not paying taxes and are taking advantage of municipal services whereas the licensed establishments are paying an inflated rate which is subsidizing the illegal operators.

Thai Hotels Association is a private orginization established in 1963 to promote tourism and profit for it's members.

They are merely sayiny that if you are not a member of their PRIVATE ASSOCIATION then you must be breaking the law.

Maybe it is true (or not) that members of the Thai Hotel Association have higher standards but it does not automatically guarantee that hotels not under their regime are ALL substandard.

This is purely and simplely a case of a Private Association trying to justify their member fees by making broad and misleading accusations.

This is true. The THA is just upset because they cannot control the 'illegal' guest houses, let alone request for membership fees. THA is just a promotional association. It has no charter with safety standards in itself. It only has promotional objectives.

It is laughable that they would be crying about laws, when there is no existing hospitality law in Thailand that works. Fire egress, emergency lighting, disability access, and crowd capacity and thoroughfares do not exist in a standardized format. Emergency standards, fire rated doors and sprinkler systems don't have regulations here. Just having emergency egress maps on each floor, sprinklers (that don't always work), smoke alarms, or room capacity signs don't mean squat unless it's absolutely regulated by a governing board. There needs to be a Health and Safety Board that inspects all hospitality businesses including restaurants. Building codes in Thailand are a joke. Disability codes? Nope.

[SergeiY]

Remember the changing demographics of tourists coming to Thailand:  Fewer Euro/Americans & more Chinese/Arab/Indians & Russians.  Generally speaking, the new tourists are going to spend less money.  They are less likely to stay at a 4 or 5 star hotel & will usually go to cheaper restaurants and guesthouses.

"Chinese/Arab/Indians & Russians." only cheap tourists? Really? When was the last time you spend your time at a 5 star hotel?

[asiawatcher]

Another crackdown or crack up! How stupid. Another wasted effort article, about pencil neck public servants thinking up ways to justify their salaries.

So all the police run short time hotels who do not comply are going to be regulated?

What about night clubs like Santisa? Why not regulate hotels, beer bars, disco's and all manner of things that impact hotels and their use.

The the most ridiculous statement saying hotel rooms are down in the first 7 months and these short time low budget hotels are to blame? 46% this year. Helloooooo - Red shirts, politics, guns, explosions? Oh dam_n! Forgot that could have affected occupancy! Let the THA and BMTA draw their stupid conclusions based on facts, not assumptions and point the finger at the cause and affect. Idiots all.