Next time you check in at Hotel Maurya, be ready to wallow in the lap of five-star luxury.

Hotel Maurya has been classified under the category of five-star hotels by the Hotel and Restaurants Approval and Classification Committee under the ministry of tourism. The 81 rooms of the hotel have been classified as five-star property for five years - from September 9, 2015, to 2020.

"We are a five-star property since 1989. There was misconception among people about our star category. The rumours compelled the hotel management to hold this meeting," said B.D. Singh, the general manager of the hotel, addressing a news meet.

The hotels seeking re-classification are supposed to apply for the same at least six months prior to the expiry of the current period of classification. "Since we have failed to re-apply six months before the expiry of the classification period, our application was treated as a fresh case of classification," added Singh.

"The rooms at Maurya are clean, the food is delicious and the service is prompt. But a few things such as the restaurant and the swimming pool maintenance need to improve," said Abhishek Singh, an IT employee from Bangalore.

"If you go to other hotels in Patna, there would be no one at the reception. Maurya is the only hotel perfect in service, facilities and food. I confirm my visit to Patna only after my room is booked in Maurya," said Taara Yadvarkar, a businesswomen from Mumbai.

"We are proud to announce and confirm it to the residents of Bihar that we fulfil the checklist criteria for being a five-star hotel made by ministry of tourism (see chart)," added Singh.

The hotels applying for the classification have to provide the documents, including the name of the hotel and address, a note by the owner on their business antecedents, details of the hotel along with area, facilities and services. The hotel has to provide a no-objection certificate from the municipality, police department, health officer, fire services department, public liability insurance, bar licence, clearance from the pollution board and application fees.

The inspection of the hotel is done by a classification committee, which comprises additional director-general of tourism, chairperson HRACC, representative of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India, representative from the Hotel Association of India, representative from the Indian Association of Tour Operator, representative from the Travel Agents Association of India, regional director of India Tourism office, principal of Institute of Hotel Management and HRACC member-secretary.