Oyo’s policy on unmarried couples draws backlash from youth

Questions over moral policing by hospitality platform

Hotel

Society

January 12, 2025

/ By / New Delhi

Oyo’s policy on unmarried couples draws backlash from youth

Netizens argue that Oyo's policy highlights the ongoing tension in India between modernity and tradition (Photo: Oyo Facebook)

Oyo, a leading hotel booking platform, has come in for severe criticism from consumers, especially the youth, over its new policy that gives discretionary powers to hotel operators on whether to let unmarried couples stay in their hotels. The policy is being seen as a start-up succumbing to self-appointed moral police groups in India and a severe attack on the fundamental rights of people.

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India has long struggled with societal stigmas surrounding relationships, with incidents involving self-proclaimed guardians of morality and ‘Indian culture’ often making headlines. These groups frequently harass innocent individuals, particularly unmarried couples and those who do not conform to traditional norms.

Recently, Oyo, a leading hospitality platform, has been caught in a controversy after it changed its policies and allowed discretionary powers to hotel operators listed on its platform to decide on whether to let unmarried couples stay in their hotels.

According to a report by the Press Trust of India, a leading newsagency, whether booking online or in person, couples will now be required to provide valid proof of their relationship at check-in.

For many, it is somewhat ironic to see a start up like Oyo, which has long championed personal freedom and individual liberties, succumb to moral policing and regressive thinking. In 2017, the hospitality company published a report titled ‘Can unmarried couples stay in hotels in India?’ that advocated for personal freedoms, presenting multiple accounts and statistics in support of the cause.

The report highlighted that 60 pc of couples seeking hotel accommodations were from the same city, further emphasising the demand for inclusivity. Adding to the irony is the fact that Uttar Pradesh, the state with the highest demand for hotel bookings from such couples in 2017, is now the very place where Oyo has implemented this new policy.

Netizens argue that shift highlights the ongoing tension in India between modernity and tradition, and the continued imposition of so-called societal norms on personal freedoms.

“It is honestly baffling to see Oyo come up with something like this. In times when people are constantly pushing for more progressive spaces, a policy like this feels outdated and unnecessary,” Rishabh Sachdeva, a Delhi resident, tells India & You.

In its defence, Oyo says that the measure reflects the desire of the law enforcement agencies and ‘civil society groups’ in order to promote security and safety of the people staying in the hotels. In a press statement, Pawas Sharma, Regional Head North India, Oyo, says that the company remains committed to promoting safe and responsible hospitality. “While Oyo respects individual freedoms, it also recognises its responsibility to cooperate with law enforcement and civil society groups in the areas it operates,’’ says Oyo. The company also emphasises that it will regularly review the policy and its impacts.

This is not the first time that Oyo is in the eye of a public storm. Over the years, there have been alarming reports of alleged privacy violations, including incidents involving use of hidden cameras to film clients as well as for alleged harassment. Additionally, Oyo is believed to regularly share customer data with government agencies which raises concerns about privacy.

Oyo maintains that its policy change reflects a commitment to fulfilling its social responsibilities to social communities and groups. While the company asserts that the new policy is designed to enhance safety, critics argue that it is, in reality, a reaction to mounting conservative social pressures.

“Let us not pretend this is about safety. If they wanted to prioritise security, there are better ways to do it, invest in better verification systems or strengthen internal protocols. This is clearly about bowing to conservative social pressures and trying to maintain a ‘safe’ image for traditionalists,” he adds.

This shift suggests that in some conservative parts of India, laws or public sentiment may push businesses like Oyo to align with certain expectations, including restrictions on unmarried couples staying together.

A Broader Debate on Personal Freedoms

The decision has ignited a broader debate, with many netizens seeing the move as regressive. The policy is viewed by many as reinforcing outdated social norms and limiting the freedom of unmarried couples, while potentially criminalising innocent activities.

“There is no valid justification. Restricting check-ins for unmarried couples blatantly undermines personal freedoms and perpetuates the idea that women’s decisions need monitoring, which is regressive,” says a journalist based in Bangalore, speaking to India & You.

For younger generations, particularly those seeking privacy, autonomy, and more liberal social norms, such rules can feel even more constraining. The ability to choose where and how to stay, without facing moral judgments or stigmas, is a key part of youth culture today.

“These regulations are far from justified. They infringe on personal liberties and make adult relationships feel like something that needs to be hidden. Everyone is trying to move past old-school judgments, and this just feels like a setback rather than progress,” a Mumbai-based social media executive tells India & You.

These regulations can make it especially hard for those who are part of non-traditional relationships to express themselves freely. The impact could foster frustration, reinforce societal divides, or push people to look for alternative, possibly less legitimate, accommodations that do not have such restrictions.

“It is hard enough to navigate societal expectations without added interference from companies. This kind of policy chips away at our confidence to live on their terms and adds an unnecessary hurdle to personal relationships. It is disappointing to see modern platforms taking such outdated stances,” she adds.

The new restrictions may not only affect Indian nationals but also foreign travellers arriving in India, particularly those seeking budget accommodations. Many of these tourists travel in groups or as unmarried couples, and requiring proof of relationship for a short stay could significantly discourage them.

For those on a limited budget or travelling for a brief period, such demands could complicate their plans, leading to frustration and potential changes in their travel arrangements. This policy may inadvertently make India less attractive to budget-conscious and independent travellers.

“It may not stop me from going to India but if I am with my partner, it would maybe make me a little afraid to tell people we were not married depending on the context,” David Decker, a teacher and avid traveller tells India & You.

In India, companies like MakeMyTrip (MMT), Qwiksta, and Brevistay are prominent platforms offering budget hotels and even hotel rooms on an hourly basis.

Due to these retrograde policies, Oyo could also see loss of a significant share of the budget hospitality market in India. As travellers, both domestic and international, face increasing restrictions on booking budget stays, particularly unmarried couples or group travellers, the demand for Oyo’s offerings may decline.

But it may also drive the ‘moral police’ brigades, encouraged by their success in browbeating Oyo, to take up more aggressive action against other hotel groups and force them to follow Oyo’s example.

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