Safety tips for partners
Tips to ensure that you and your property are protected
We take our partners' safety seriously at StayKedarnath. We strive to help you welcome high quality pilgrims and guests: we have an in-depth security process which includes verification and fraud checks.
Hosting pilgrims in the extreme conditions of the Kedar Valley requires preparedness. Here are guidelines to help you provide a safe shelter during the demanding Yatra season, protecting both your business and the travellers.
Handling Altitude Sickness
Pilgrims often arrive at your property exhausted and suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Keep a first-aid kit, portable oxygen canisters, and emergency numbers for the nearest medical center or SDRF clearly visible at the reception.
Verifying Yatra Passes
Do not host any pilgrim who has not completed their mandatory Char Dham biometric registration. Allowing unregistered yatris puts your property at risk during police checks and undermines the safety of the entire valley ecosystem.
Securing your Dashboard
Be wary of individuals communicating off-platform offering to 'buy out' your rooms for peak dates, only to cancel last minute and artificially restrict supply. Only accept bookings through the secure StayKedarnath engine.
Stay safe as a host
Clear Expectations on Amenities
Power cuts and water freezing are common in Phata, Sonprayag, and Kedarnath. Do not promise 24/7 hot water if you rely on solar heaters during the monsoon. Clearly state if guests need to climb steep stairs to reach your hotel.
Managing Stranded Pilgrims
When chopper flights are cancelled due to bad weather, stranded pilgrims may seek immediate shelter. Do not accept more guests than your property's structural limit safely allows.
Ensuring High Hygiene Standards
Due to high footfall, maintaining medical-grade sanitation is critical. Our modern partners use high-temp laundry for linens and UV-treated water for all guest stations.
Coordinating with Authorities
During heavy landslides or when the Yatra is temporarily halted by the District Magistrate, you must cooperate with local police. Inform your guests to stay indoors and do not pressure them to check out until the route is officially declared safe.
Managing Local Disputes
In case of pricing disputes involving pony operators or local vendors, contact StayKedarnath Partner Support rather than engaging directly. Maintaining peace in the valley is paramount to the safety of all pilgrims.
Professional Asset Protection
Protecting your property from high-altitude wear and tear is essential. We mandate that all partners provide clear storage for muddy trekking gear and enforce strict rules regarding the use of traditional wood heaters to prevent fire hazards and soot damage to premium interiors.
Safeguarding Property Valuables
Due to the transient nature of pilgrims who often share dormitories or camp tents, install lockers or safe boxes where yatris can securely leave excess baggage before hiking up to the main Kedarnath shrine.
Fire Safety in Wooden Structures
Many traditional pahadi homestays are built primarily with timber. Enforce strict no-smoking policies inside the property and keep regularly inspected fire extinguishers ready on every floor to prevent catastrophic fire hazards.
What you can do if things go wrong
In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, we are here for you. We know though that sometimes you'd like to be able to solve your own problems, too. In this section, you will find the guidelines to follow should an issue arise.
Should something unexpected happen and you require assistance with a reservation, our partner service team is on-hand to help you. They can be most effective if they are contacted while a guest is still staying at your property. Your first step, however, should be to contact the guest and to try to solve the issue in communication with them.
Guest misconduct
- Report it to law enforcement first: In case of abusive behaviour from a guest, either verbal or physical, please contact law enforcement officials immediately. Please hold onto any police reports or other documents.
- Then report it to us: In the unlikely event of abusive behaviour, misconduct by the guest or other illegal activities, it's important for us to know. Please report it to us so we can help to protect you and our other partners in future.
Keeping your damage deposit
If you've already collected a damage deposit, you are within your rights to keep it in cases where the damage is proven to be caused by the guest. We highly recommend taking clear photo evidence before the guest departs entirely from the valley.
Disaster relief efforts
We are constantly looking into new ways to support our partners and guests when things go wrong. Our team works with government officials and SDRF all around the region to support relief efforts on the ground.
Whenever there is a natural disaster or severe, security-related event, StayKedarnath will assess the impact the event has had on you as part of our crisis response. You can expect us to contact you to determine if you are OK (and are still able to welcome guests).