India - Taxes on free award nights at hotels in India

I am a little confused on this - Do hotels in India charge taxes on the rack rate (or room rate for that matter) for an award booking (paid fully with points)?

I understand that when paid with points + cash or cash, taxes would be charged. But what happens when the room is fully paid with points?

Does this vary by hotel chain, state, etc.?

Specifically, does anyone have experience with the HI Jaipur, which is on the current PB list?

Thanks.

All I can speak to are Hilton properties. We had award stays at both the Hilton and the Hilton Garden Inn in New Delhi and we were not charged taxes on the rooms. Incidentals yes, but no 5-10% tax on the room rate.

There are some threads in the SPG forum. It seems inconsistent -- or, at a minimum, confusing -- it might vary by city.

Yes at HR Delhi not at GH/HR Mumbai. Did not have time to argue with them.

I am a little confused on this - Do hotels in India charge taxes on the rack rate (or room rate for that matter) for an award booking (paid fully with points)?

I understand that when paid with points + cash or cash, taxes would be charged. But what happens when the room is fully paid with points?

Does this vary by hotel chain, state, etc.?

Specifically, does anyone have experience with the HI Jaipur, which is on the current PB list?

Thanks.

I have stayed at the IC Lalit Mumbai Intl Airport and HI Resort Goa on award stays.. no taxes or anything was taken at both ..

But check this thread out ..
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/india/428443-warning-issues-about-hotel-taxes-india.html

Maybe a good idea to confirm with the specific hotel on this in my view..

Thanks for all the responses. I will check directly with HI Jaipur and post here. If there is any experience with other hotels, please let me know.

I stayed at the JW in Mumbai on points and did not have to pay any taxes.

I am a little confused on this - Do hotels in India charge taxes on the rack rate (or room rate for that matter) for an award booking (paid fully with points)?

I understand that when paid with points + cash or cash, taxes would be charged. But what happens when the room is fully paid with points?

Does this vary by hotel chain, state, etc.?

Specifically, does anyone have experience with the HI Jaipur, which is on the current PB list?

Thanks.

It varies by location, by property, and even sometimes by guest (especially if the guest is willing to push back on the matter and gets sort of lucky).

The Starwood, Hyatt and ICHG hotels in Delhi have a number of years of history of charging taxes (based on rack rate usually of room occupied) on award stays. It's still a current practice there.

ICHG and Starwood hotels in nearby Gurgaon usually don't charge any taxes on award stays.

My award stays in Jaipur at other brands were not hit by the luxury tax, but I've not stayed at the HI Jaipur.

you will not be charged taxes on an award stay at the hi jaipur....i booked a reward stay here for my brother & his wife recently & they did not have to pay anything extra....

Awesome. Thanks saad. This is great news.
I had sent an email to the hotel manager, but have not received a response yet.