19/11/2025
In the last 24 hours, two incidents have come to light that raise serious questions about the professionalism of certain hotels in Kashmir. While these incidents involve only two properties, they clearly show how easily such practices can damage the trust guests place in Kashmir’s hospitality and how urgently this behaviour needs to be addressed before it spreads.
In one case, a hotel denied check-in on the same day, despite receiving 100% advance payment long before the guest’s arrival. The reason given was “construction work.”
However, construction is never a sudden, same-day discovery. If such work was genuinely planned, timely communication is a fundamental professional responsibility.
Last-minute cancellations not only inconvenience the guest but also put travel partners in a difficult and embarrassing position.
In the second incident, another hotel not only demanded additional heating charges at the time of check-in, charges that were never disclosed during booking but also refused to provide the room category that the guest had already paid for.
When the guest requested clarification, the response given was simply:
“If you don’t agree, cancel the booking and take a refund.”
This level of unprofessionalism, hidden charges, refusal to honour the booked category, and dismissive behaviour is unacceptable. While these incidents involve only two hotels, they clearly signal a risk of such practices becoming more common if not addressed immediately.
𝐓𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬:
This is a moment for serious reflection. Every confirmed booking represents trust- Trust from your guests and from the travel partners who support your business. Damaging that trust for last-minute excuses or undisclosed charges has long-term consequences for everyone.
𝐓𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬:
We must remain united in raising these concerns. Even a single negative experience affects the entire tourism ecosystem, and it is our responsibility to ensure that our guests receive the professionalism they are promised.
Kashmir’s hospitality is respected across the world for its honesty, warmth, and care. To protect that reputation, such practices must stop now before isolated incidents turn into an industry wide issue.
