Traveling in India is becoming increasingly challenging for unmarried couples, with LGBTQ partners facing even greater hurdles.
OYO Rooms, a major hospitality chain, on Jan. 9 issued a directive to its partner hotels in Meerut, a city that is 50 miles from New Delhi, that allows them to refuse to allow unmarried couples to make reservations.
The chain now requires all couples to present valid proof of their relationship at check-in, even for online bookings. The company stated the decision aligns with local social sensibilities and hinted that the policy might be expanded to other cities based on feedback from the ground.
OYO, which partners with more than half a million hotels across India, operates not only within the country but also in other parts of Asia, the U.S., and Europe.