The Code of Practice for Bed and Breakfast facilities was recently approved as a national standard by the National Standards Council after it was developed by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Technical Committee – Tourism. This standard, which specifies the minimum requirements for bed and breakfast facilities operating in Guyana, was formulated in an effort to improve the quality of services offered by local providers of bed and breakfast facilities. It is expected that this Code of Practice would be utilised by all stakeholders in the Tourism sector and specifically by local bed and breakfast providers and potential investors in this category, thereby promoting standardisation for this particular service.
The Standard provides minimum requirements for three categories of facilities, A, B, and C category. For bread and breakfast facilities to be considered as Category A, they must include self-contained double or single bedroom accommodation with an air conditioned unit, television and other basic amenities including telephone, access to a mini refrigerator and comfortable functioning furniture, in a quiet and attractive setting. In addition, the standard states that private access to rooms is preferable and hot water, hot and cold shower, fresh clean linen and breakfast shall be provided. Lunch, diner or any other meals could be arranged on request at an additional cost.
Requirements for facilities falling under Category B and C are similar to Category A with a few exclusions in descending order.
The standards also address minimum requirements for rooms which include sufficient size for freedom of movement, privacy, requirements for beds and sheet covering and other furniture requirements. Electrical installation, fire safety, hygiene and pest control are also addressed by the standard.
As Guyana strives to expand and improve its tourism sector, there is the growing need to provide quality services and comfortable accommodation for tourists and other visitors to or country. Acquiring a copy of this standard and implementing the requirements therein, would certainly aid entrepreneurs and operators in the tourism industry particularly, providers of bread and breakfast facilities to better meet the demands of our visitors.
Copies are available upon request from the Technical Standards Information Unit of the GNBS.