Ever walked into a café for a quick coffee and ended up staying for hours to finish a meeting, catch up with friends or simply work from a cosy corner? In Bengaluru, that familiar habit could soon come at a cost. Hotel owners across the city are now discussing the idea of introducing ‘table charges’ for customers who occupy seats for long durations after placing minimal orders.
Hotel owners in Bengaluru are considering introducing ‘table charges’ for customers who occupy seating for long hours after placing minimal orders, amid growing concerns over business losses and space misuse. The proposal is currently under discussion and may soon be placed before the government for approval.
The Bengaluru Hotel Owners’ Association said several small and
medium-sized hotels have reported a sharp rise in customers using hotel premises as informal meeting spaces. According to hoteliers, customers often sit for extended periods after ordering only tea, coffee, or light snacks, leading to congestion and reduced table availability for other guests, particularly during peak hours.
The association stated that prolonged table occupation directly impacts daily sales and customer turnover. Many hotel owners have approached the association seeking measures to address the issue and protect their business interests.
Under the proposed plan, customers who continue to occupy tables for long durations after placing small orders may be charged a penalty or table usage fee. The model is being compared to parking charges, where users pay for extended occupation of limited space. The association clarified that the proposal is still in its early stages and that a formal request seeking regulatory approval and operational guidelines will soon be submitted to the government to ensure fair implementation.
The proposal comes months after a similar incident in the city sparked widespread online debate. A hotel in Bengaluru had put up a notice banning long meetings and warning customers of a fine for occupying a table for more than an hour. The notice stated that meetings exceeding one hour would attract a penalty of Rs 1,000 per hour.
A photograph of the signboard was shared on social media platform X, where it quickly went viral, garnering over 30,000 views and triggering mixed reactions from users. While some supported the move, citing challenges faced by small businesses, others questioned the practicality of enforcing such penalties.
The viral notice highlighted the growing frustration among hoteliers in Bengaluru, where cafés and small eateries have increasingly become meeting hubs due to the rise of start-ups, remote work culture, and business negotiations. Industry representatives say the proposed table charge system is an attempt to balance customer convenience with business sustainability.
If the proposal receives government approval, hotel owners expect the system to be implemented first in high-demand commercial areas, where prolonged table occupancy has been reported as a major operational challenge.
