Published on Sept 11, 2024Updated on Aug 27, 2026
The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) acknowledges the growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. It encourages the opening of more convention and exhibition centres for this purpose. Thus, the Ministry grants a Convention Hall License to encourage investment and standardise facilities at convention centres. This article takes you through the process of obtaining a conventional hall license which can also serve different purposes such as a banquet hall or a marriage hall.
Obtaining a convention hall license comes with a range of benefits, some of which are listed below:
These benefits of a convention or banquet hall license help in the smooth functioning and promotion of your convention hall. Please note that the availability of these benefits may vary depending on the current government policies and regulations in India.
Here are the important convention hall licensing requirements:
You must have at least one convention hall with audio-visual conferencing equipment, a high-fidelity recording facility, video projection/graphs, etc. You must have skilled manpower at various levels.
You must have a minimum of two convention halls for seminars, committees, meetings, etc.
An exhibition hall is necessary for banquet hall approval and licensing. The exhibition centre must accommodate at least 20 booths of 3 mts by 3 mts in size.
Having a restaurant is mandatory to get a license for a convention hall operation. Restaurants should comply with the existing HRACC guidelines laid down by the Ministry.
Parking facilities to accommodate not less than 50 cars and 5 coaches are a requirement for a banquet hall license.
In the banquet hall licensing process, the residential accommodation requirements apply only if desired. They must adhere to the Ministry's guidelines for the respective star category of hotels.
In addition to the above facilities, a convention hall license also necessitates the following:
To obtain a convention hall permit, the following documents must be submitted:
Apart from these, the MOT has prescribed some regulatory conditions to be adhered to and whose acceptance must be furnished in the form. This is necessary to obtain permission for a marriage venue or a convention hall:
For updated information on getting a marriage hall license and permit, visit the official website of the Ministry of Tourism.
The applicable fees to obtain a permit for a banquet hall operation are as follows:
|
Sl. No |
Stages of Approval |
Amount |
|
1 |
Approval at the project stage |
INR 5,000 |
|
2 |
Approval at the operational stage |
INR 10,000 |
|
3 |
Re-approval process |
INR 5,000 |
It is best to check with your local authorities for the most up-to-date information on the fees for a conventional hall license.
To receive legal permission for a marriage hall, you must follow the below procedure as set by the MOT:
For permission to operate a marriage hall, you can apply online with the official web portal of Classification, Occupancy and Approval of Hotels.
If you are a new user, complete your registration in the portal by clicking on the ‘New Registration’ link.
With your set user ID and password, log in to your account.
Click ‘Apply for Approval of Convention Hall License’ to access the application form.
Provide all the details requested in the form and click ‘Save and Proceed’.
Upload the required documents and click ‘Save and Proceed’. For a smooth approval process, ensure all the necessary documents are submitted accurately.
Complete the application fee payment using Debit/Credit Card/RTGS/NEFT.
The last step of your application as part of your marriage hall approval requirements is the inspection process. Your convention hall license application will be inspected by the Hotel and Restaurant Approval and Classification Committee (HRACC).
Since the convention site is expected to maintain the necessary standards at all times, the HRACC would come for inspection at any time without notice. Its members may be held overnight for a complete inspection of the hall’s services.
Certificates of approval will be issued under the signatures of the concerned Regional Director subject to the approval of the competent authority. The convention hall must adhere to the tenets of the Code of Conduct for Safe and Honourable Tourism.
These are the complete legal requirements for a marriage hall license. It's recommended to consult with the relevant government authorities or licensing agencies for the most up-to-date information as these procedures are subject to change.
A convention hall project can be heavy on the pocket if you’re self-financing. Business loans can be an effective way to secure the necessary funds and ensure smooth project execution. Here’s why a business loan is a valuable funding option:
Getting a convention hall license can become easier if you are well-informed about its procedure and the costs involved. Once you have the license, ensuring the smooth running of the hall will require significant funding. SMFG India Credit can help you meet both short-term and long-term business finance needs with an unsecured business loan of up to INR 1 crore*. Apply online to avail of competitive interest rates and flexible tenures of up to 60 months.
Important Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and may be subject to change from time to time. As product features, eligibility criteria, interest rates, charges, fees, tenures and other terms may be revised as per SMFG India Credit's policies, readers are advised to refer to the latest details from the respective product pages (please select from the top menu). For the latest loan charges, please visit Charges & Fees Link and for the latest Interest rates, please visit Interest Rate Rationale. Please note that final loan terms, disbursement process and eligibility criteria will depend on SMFG India Credit's policies at the time of loan application.
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