The need for hotel restaurants to entertain guests from various backgrounds is often a stumbling block to obtaining a BPJPH halal certificate. LPH LPPOM provides an easy and fast solution for the hotel industry so that it can still obtain a BPJPH halal certificate, even if it sells alcohol or pork.
The hotel industry is growing daily. To expand market segmentation, the hotel industry needs to provide adequate facilities. One facility that cannot be avoided is the availability of restaurants or bars that serve non-halal food and drinks, such as pork and alcohol. This is to serve non-Muslim guests and foreign tourists.
However, halal certification for hotel restaurants is essential. This is a form of the hotel’s commitment to Muslim guests who want the convenience of getting a halal guarantee for the menu served. Halal certification is not only a sign that the food meets Sharia standards but also shows the hotel’s professionalism in accommodating the needs of guests with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
This dualism is an unavoidable necessity for the hotel industry, which is dynamic and fast-moving. Responding to this, LPPOM Halal Auditor Desy Triyanti said that the hotel industry can still easily accommodate dualism as long as it is carried out in different places. This is to avoid the risk of contamination.
“For hotel business actors, it is important to understand that providing a halal area does not mean losing non-Muslim consumers. In fact, by separating the areas, hotels can serve the needs of both consumer groups well,” said Desy.
She emphasized more clearly that hotel halal certification has a certain scope. “When halal certification is carried out on a hotel, the scope includes specific areas, such as restaurants or other facilities that are submitted for certification. Not all parts of the hotel are automatically certified halal, but only areas that have met the halal requirements,” explained Desy.
This differs from Sharia hotels, which have broader operational principles covering all aspects of hotel services, such as not providing halal goods (including alcohol and pork), employee dress codes, and management according to Islamic law. Meanwhile, hotels with halal certification only ensure that certain facilities, such as restaurants or cafes, meet halal standards.
For example, a restaurant in a hotel may have obtained halal certification, but other bars or restaurants in the hotel that sell alcohol or pork are not included in the scope of halal certification. Halal-certified areas must be completely separate in terms of kitchen, equipment, and raw materials.
Desy emphasized that halal-certified areas must meet strict halal standards. “In areas that have been halal certified, there must be no pork or alcoholic beverages on the menu. All equipment, such as refrigerators, freezers, to plates and serving utensils, must be ensured to be free from contamination of non-halal materials,” said Desy.
She also highlighted the importance of the cleaning process for cutlery used for non-halal materials. “As Muslims, we know that washing plates used to serve pork, for example, is not enough with just regular washing. It must be washed seven times according to sharia,” said Desy.
Currently, more than 50 hotels in Indonesia have halal-certified restaurants. This shows that hotels are increasingly aware of the importance of providing halal facilities for Muslim consumers. Halal certification of hotel restaurants is also a form of the Company’s compliance with applicable regulations.
As is well known, the government has required halal certification for all products in circulation, including hotel restaurants. This is stated in Government Regulation (PP) Number 42 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of the Halal Product Assurance Sector.
With a clearer understanding of the halal principle, hotels in Indonesia can continue to innovate to meet the market’s diverse needs without ignoring Sharia rules. This is a positive step towards an inclusive and halal-friendly hospitality industry.
To facilitate this, LPPOM opens a discussion space for the hospitality industry regarding halal certification through Customer Care service at Call Center 14056 or WhatsApp 0811-1148-696. In addition, business actors can also learn more about the flow and process of halal certification by attending the Introduction to Halal Certification (PSH) class, which is held regularly every week https://halalmui.org/pengenalan-sertifikasi-halal/. (YN)
