http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/news/254138/tougher_rules_for_new_hotels.html
Tougher rules for new hotels with hourly rates
By Kor Kian Beng , The Straits Times | Fri, Sep 18 2009
Rules tightened for these places which are often seen as hotbeds of prostitution.
THE Government will come down hard on new hotels that rent rooms by the hour, as it tightens the rules for these places which are often seen as hotbeds of prostitution.
Newcomers applying for an operating licence have to justify why they are offering such rates. In addition, they have to install closed-circuit television systems, and hire guards to preserve the safety of their guests and look out for possible illegal activities.
Hoteliers with an eye on offering such rooms in residential areas will face an even harder time.
They are required 'to engage the community and respond to concerns of residents', said Mr S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, without elaborating.
He announced the new measures in Parliament yesterday.
When contacted, the Singapore Tourism Board's director of resource development, Ms Rebecca Lim, said the new rules take effect immediately but apply only to new hotels.
Existing hotels that rent rooms by the hour are exempted from these stricter measures when they renew their licences, which must be done every year.
The latest changes follow initial deterrent steps taken by the Hotels Licensing Board (HLB).
In January, it banned all hotels in Joo Chiat from offering hourly rates, in a bid to stop vice activities in the area well-known for its rich Peranakan heritage.
Residents there, as well as those in Duxton Road in Tanjong Pagar, have been complaining long and loud that such hotels often encouraged vice activities.
Their cause had been championed in Parliament by Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), who had continually urged the authorities to rein in prostitution to within the boundaries of the red-light areas in Geylang.
In yesterday's sitting, he wanted to know if there were plans to issue these hotels with special licences. He also asked for the number of hourly-rate hotels beyond Geylang and measures, if any, to curb them from mushrooming outside Geylang, especially in residential areas.
Hotels that rent rooms by the hour or for part of a day are also known as transit hotels, and they can be in business districts, at or near airports.
Mr Iswaran estimates that almost half of the 250 hotels here are transit hotels and they are not given a special licence.
The reason: Singapore adopts a pro-enterprise approach that gives hotels 'the flexibility to set their operating model, including their room pricing', he said.
It is a model adopted in major cities, such as Hong Kong, London and New York, he added.
Hence, the HLB does not track the number of transit hotels.
But he assured the House that the Board works closely with enforcement agencies to monitor the activities of hotels here.
He warned that hotels that are guilty of illegal activities can lose their licence.
Mr de Souza, when contacted, said he welcomed the stricter rules, which showed the Government was aware of the concerns that such hotels could lead to vice and other social problems.
'The new measures are a step in the right direction because now the authorities can vet the kind of activities that might occur at these places.'
He also urged residents to do their part: 'Now is the time for residents to be vigilant and voice their concerns.'
Tougher rules for new hotels with hourly rates
By Kor Kian Beng , The Straits Times | Fri, Sep 18 2009
Rules tightened for these places which are often seen as hotbeds of prostitution.
THE Government will come down hard on new hotels that rent rooms by the hour, as it tightens the rules for these places which are often seen as hotbeds of prostitution.
Newcomers applying for an operating licence have to justify why they are offering such rates. In addition, they have to install closed-circuit television systems, and hire guards to preserve the safety of their guests and look out for possible illegal activities.
Hoteliers with an eye on offering such rooms in residential areas will face an even harder time.
They are required 'to engage the community and respond to concerns of residents', said Mr S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, without elaborating.
He announced the new measures in Parliament yesterday.
When contacted, the Singapore Tourism Board's director of resource development, Ms Rebecca Lim, said the new rules take effect immediately but apply only to new hotels.
Existing hotels that rent rooms by the hour are exempted from these stricter measures when they renew their licences, which must be done every year.
The latest changes follow initial deterrent steps taken by the Hotels Licensing Board (HLB).
In January, it banned all hotels in Joo Chiat from offering hourly rates, in a bid to stop vice activities in the area well-known for its rich Peranakan heritage.
Residents there, as well as those in Duxton Road in Tanjong Pagar, have been complaining long and loud that such hotels often encouraged vice activities.
Their cause had been championed in Parliament by Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), who had continually urged the authorities to rein in prostitution to within the boundaries of the red-light areas in Geylang.
In yesterday's sitting, he wanted to know if there were plans to issue these hotels with special licences. He also asked for the number of hourly-rate hotels beyond Geylang and measures, if any, to curb them from mushrooming outside Geylang, especially in residential areas.
Hotels that rent rooms by the hour or for part of a day are also known as transit hotels, and they can be in business districts, at or near airports.
Mr Iswaran estimates that almost half of the 250 hotels here are transit hotels and they are not given a special licence.
The reason: Singapore adopts a pro-enterprise approach that gives hotels 'the flexibility to set their operating model, including their room pricing', he said.
It is a model adopted in major cities, such as Hong Kong, London and New York, he added.
Hence, the HLB does not track the number of transit hotels.
But he assured the House that the Board works closely with enforcement agencies to monitor the activities of hotels here.
He warned that hotels that are guilty of illegal activities can lose their licence.
Mr de Souza, when contacted, said he welcomed the stricter rules, which showed the Government was aware of the concerns that such hotels could lead to vice and other social problems.
'The new measures are a step in the right direction because now the authorities can vet the kind of activities that might occur at these places.'
He also urged residents to do their part: 'Now is the time for residents to be vigilant and voice their concerns.'
