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Globally, providing a room with meals inclusive is a practice that is considered standard across the hospitality industry. Hotels, especially the fancy ones, include meals in the rates they charge for a room. A plan without meals inclusive is considered the cheapest. In the same spirit, it makes sense that the rates, including a full course meal, will be at least higher.
Generally, there are 4 types of meals plans practiced all over the world: American Plan (AP), Modified American Plan (MAP), Continental Plan (CP), European Plan (EP). In this article we will break down these types of meal plan in hotel.
But, first what is meal plan?
A meal plan is a plan that is added to a room rate for providing a room and meals to guests at a hotel. It is very important for travelers to select a meal plan after checking the room rate. Most of the time, travelers compare different room rates without looking at meal plan. Selecting a meal plan after checking the room rate is very important for travelers.
On the basis of the type of meal plan, hotels can be classified into the following :
- European Plan
- Continental Plan
- American Plan
- Modified American Plan
European Plan
It is a plan where only the lodging that is a bed is offered. Thus the charges are made for lodging facilities only. The guest is free to take or not to take teas, breakfast, and meals in the hotel. He has a choice of eating out at any other good restaurant. The guest is booked to pay for lodging only and is charged separately for all other things or services he
enjoys or consumes. This system is generally followed by youth hostels or hotels which are situated in metropolitan cities. In India, most of the hotels are being run on the European plan. Almost all the public sector hotels are run on this basis.
Continental Plan
In the case of continental plan, bed and breakfast are included in the tariff charges. Thus bed is offered along with breakfast and the guest is, however, free to take his meal and tea as he likes. Thus the guest tariff includes lodging and ‘bed and breakfast’ and for others, he is separately billed.
American Plan
The hotel where American plan is prevalent, boarding, and lodging is provided in the charge. The tariff fixed includes board and lodging. It is an all-inclusive full board tariff. Accommodation and three meals daily are included in the price of the room. It includes bed, breakfast, and two principal meals and evening tea. It does not include early morning tea or
coffee after lunch, or dinner. The needs are usually ‘table d’hote menu’. It is also known as ‘full pension’. This analysis is mostly used at those tourist resorts, which are not situated in big cities.
Modified American Plan
The tourists mostly prefer this plan, as it is comparatively more flexible. It is offered in most of the good hotels and is normally by arrangement. It includes hotel accommodation, breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the price of the room. Thus, in this type of accommodation bed and breakfast and along with it one principal meal, lunch, or dinner at the discretion of the guest is also included. It generally includes continental breakfast and either ‘table d’hôte lunch or dinner in the room rates. It is also known as ‘demi-pension’.