In April, the State Duma, acting on the initiative of State Duma Deputy Speaker Svetlana Zhurova and colleagues, approved the first reading of a bill that envisages the introduction of new and stricter rules for hospitality services and mandatory classification of all Sochi hotels as parts of preparation for and realization of all the projects earmarked to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2014.
Specifically, the bill states that only hotels that have undergone the new classification procedures according to the new law can offer hospitality services in the city from July 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2016. Consequently, the bill requires hotels owners to sign agreements on rendering hotel services during the Games with the Sochi-2014 Organizing Committee. The local authorities are to enforce the new legislation, including control over the fulfillment of the legal requirements.
Besides, this bill also lays down punitive measures for Sochi hotels that will continue to operate without undergoing the new classification procedures. The fines range from 2,000-2,500 rubles for individuals, 7,000-10,000 rubles for officials and 40,000-50,000 rubles for companies.
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