Singapore sets new hotel licensing guidelines for 2025

As part of a major move to modernize the hospitality sector, the Singapore government has introduced the Hotel Licensing (Amendment) Regulations 2024which should come into force from January 2025.

This update of Hotels Act 1954 marks a crucial change in the operational framework for hotel licensing in Singapore, aimed at increasing regulatory efficiency and adapting to the changing needs of the hospitality sector.

Among the most notable changes is the introduction of new provisions regarding governance and procedural aspects of hotel management.

The amendment specifies the role of the vice-president of the Board of Directors, establishing that the vice-president can intervene in the event of the absence or incapacity of the president.

The president retains the authority to call meetings and make decisions by quorum or by electronic communication, if necessary. In the event of a blockage, the vote of the president is decisive.

The regulatory updates also affect how meetings are conducted.

The Council can now convene meetings not only in person, but also through audio-visual or electronic means, ensuring that members can participate remotely as long as they have access to the required technology.

The updated regulations provide that decisions can be made outside of meetings via distributed documents, including by email, streamlining processes for urgent matters.

The application process for certificate of registration and hotel license has also been refined. Under the new regulations, each application must be submitted via the official website of the Singapore GoBusiness platform.

This digitalization aims to simplify and speed up the application process, ensuring that all forms are submitted in the prescribed manner and that applicants meet the required criteria.

Hotels seeking to renew their license or register for the first time should ensure that their application is complete and accurate, with the inclusion of all necessary details.

If a hotelier is unable to continue to manage the premises due to events such as resignation or dismissal, the occupier must promptly notify the authorities. In addition, the regulations specify that the license cannot be transferred to another person.

THE Hotel Licensing (Amendment) Regulations 2024 also introduce stricter guidelines for the operation of hotels, including new requirements for handling complaints and objections.

In cases where objections are filed, the Commission is required to provide the applicant with details of the objections, thereby giving the applicant an opportunity to respond to them before a decision is made.