January 31: The number of five-star and deluxe hotels operating in Nepal has reached 17. The Department of Tourism has issued license to one deluxe five-star level hotel and other 16 five-star hotels in the country. Hotels get a star-star rating from the Department of Tourism based on their infrastructure, services, and facilities. The hotels should apply for the five-star rating with the department. Some of the hotels operating in the country are also preparing to submit applications to the department for the five-star rating.

Some hotels are under construction. The department estimates that the number of five-star hotels will increase within a short span.

Budhanilkanth Heritage Limited, under India's hospitality chain brand 'Lemon Tree Premier', is also planning to apply for a five-star rating.

According to the department, the total number of rooms in five-star deluxe and similar-level hotels is 2,346 in Nepal. According to the rating done by the department, there is only one five-star deluxe hotel. Hotel Mechi Crown, which is operating in Dhulabari, Jhapa, is the only five-star deluxe hotel in the country.

Soalte Hotel, Hotel Annapurna, Taragaon Regency Hotel Limited (Hyatt), The Mall Hotel Pvt Ltd, Hotel Shangrila, Hotel Everest, Hotel Aloft, Hyatt Place, Hotel Lhasa International, Akama Hotel in Kathmandu are among the five-star category hotels.

Similarly, Tiger One Pvt Ltd in Rupandehi, Soalte Westend in Nepalganj in Banke, Hotel Central Plaza in Banke, Hotel The Kingsbury in Jhapa, Ichha Hotel in Simra in Bara have been classified as five-star hotels.

Most of the five-star hotels are centered in the federal capital, Kathmandu. According to the latest data of the department, there are still very few five-star hotels operating outside the federal capital.

Also, the number of hotels built in recent times is higher in Kathmandu. Among the hotels that have been added recently and received a five-star rating license from the department are Hyatt Place, Akama, Aloft, and Hotel Lhasa International.

President of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Binayak Shah believes that the number of five-star hotels will increase if the hotels that meet the standards set by the government apply to the department for a license.

According to Shah, the hotels are based in Kathmandu due to their commercial plans and strategy.