An exploration into the awareness and compliance of hotel guest registration laws among hotels. The case of three assemblies in the Kwahu area

Abstract

The registration of hotel guest is very important to the hotel, the hotel guest, and the nation at large. It also satisfies a legal requirement in the Ghanaian hotel laws. Going contrary to the Ghanaian hotel registration laws, may lead to a breach of law which is subject to a liable summary conviction to a fine of not more than one hundred penalty units or imprisonment for a term, not more than six months or both. This study aimed at exploring the awareness and compliance of hotel guest registration laws among hotels. The case of three assemblies in the Kwahu area. The study adopted a descriptive and exploratory case study approach which used both the quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 25 hotels which constituted 39.06% percent of licensed hotels in the three Assemblies in the Kwahu. At the time of data collection, 61 front office staff, 25 hotel managers and, 75 guests were used for the study. The main data collection instruments used were questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide which were personally administered by the researcher. The study found that front office staff and managers had inadequate awareness of the hotel guest registration laws though there was some form of compliance concerning the registration of hotel guests. The study also found that all the front office staff in the studied area followed a particular pattern in registering hotel guest. The study moreso spotted some benefits and few challenges in the registration of hotel guests. The study recommends that there should be intensified public education on the legality of the registration of hotel guest, and, the benefits of hotel guest registration to encourage both the hotels and hotel guests to undertake effective guest registration.