No licence exists for selling hotel rooms on travel websites, says association

 

MyBHA said Ampang Jaya Municipal Council had issued a compound notice to a member hotel for selling rooms on Agoda without a business licence. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A budget hotel operators association has slammed a municipal council for issuing a compound notice to a member hotel for selling rooms through a travel website without an 

online business licence

.

Sri Ganesh Michiel, the president of the Malaysia Budget and Business Hotel Association, said no such licence existed for online sales or for specific online platforms.

There’s no such licence (for online sales). Even Agoda is not being regulated in Malaysia yet,

 he told FMT.

Earlier, in a statement accompanied by a picture of the compound notice, Sri Ganesh said the hotel, which operates legally, was penalised under by-law 3(1) of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPAJ) 2013 hotel by-laws, which prohibit hotel operations without a licence from the relevant authorities.

He called on the state government and the tourism, arts and culture ministry to intervene and revoke the compound fine.

This incident sets a dangerous precedent and puts undue pressure on licensed hotels that are striving to operate within the legal framework,

 he said.

It is imperative that the state government and the ministry address this issue to ensure fair treatment and to protect the interests of licensed hotel operators.

Ganesh added that the issuance of the compound notice reflected over-regulation that hampered the competitiveness of licensed hotels.

We demand a clear explanation from MPAJ regarding this decision and the criteria used to target our member hotel,

 he said. - FMT