General Sales Conditions
Déclaration générale
The present conditions constitute an integral part of the hotel agreement. Derogations are only possible in writing. These conditions are applicable to the exclusion of all general sales conditions mentioned on the documents issued by the customer, insofar as they are in conflict with the present conditions. Price quotations from the hotel owner are non-binding and without any commitment.
THE CONTRACTING PARTIES
Une personne qui passe la nuit dans un hôtel n'est pas nécessairement une partie contractante : un contrat d'hôtel peut être conclu en son nom par un tiers. En application des présentes conditions générales de vente, on entend par "partie contractante" la personne physique ou morale qui conclut un contrat de réservation d'hôtel et/ou qui est tenue d'effectuer un paiement (en échange). Le terme "client" désigne la ou les personnes physiques qui ont l'intention de passer la nuit à l'hôtel.
The services are provided at the place of business of the hotel owner, except if otherwise agreed in writing.
COMPLAINTS
Les plaintes concernant les services fournis ne peuvent être acceptées si elles ne sont pas reçues par écrit par l'hôtelier dans les sept jours suivant la fin des services. Dans la mesure du possible, le client est tenu de soumettre sa plainte pendant son séjour (= avant son départ) afin d'offrir à l'hôtelier la possibilité de résoudre immédiatement la plainte. Les plaintes concernant les services fournis ne peuvent être acceptées si elles ne sont pas reçues par écrit par l'hôtel dans les 7 jours suivant le départ du client.
THE HOTEL CONTRACT
In accordance with the hotel contract the hotel owner is obliged to provide accommodation and the usual services to the customer. These are understood to mean the ordinary services of the hotel according to its category, including the halls and various common facilities, which in general are made available to the customers. The contracting party is obliged to pay the agreed price.
FORM OF THE CONTRACT
With respect to the contract no form whatsoever is prescribed. The contract is concluded as from the express acceptance of the price quotation by the customer.
En cas de contrat écrit, l'hôtelier doit préciser les dates d'arrivée et de départ du client, ainsi que le prix convenu, une description des services demandés et le paiement d'un acompte, le cas échéant.
DURATION OF THE RESERVED STAY
If a specified number of nights are booked by the customer then the start and end date is to be specified in the hotel contract. The agreement is then terminated on the day mentioned in the hotel contract, not later than (11am). If on the agreed day of departure the customer has not left the room at (11am) at the latest, an extra night will be billed.
If not a specified number of nights are booked, then the hotel contract shall be considered as concluded for several consecutive days. In that case a notice, ending the following day at 11am at the latest, must be given by one of the parties so as to allow for the contract to be terminated. A notice from the hotel owner to the customer shall be considered as being addressed to the contracting party and shall be given in accordance with the abovementioned provisions. The notice shall be confirmed to the contracting party in writing.
The contract shall be considered as terminated, on the day the customer leaves the room before (11am).
EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT
The hotel owner and the contracting party are obliged to observe the provisions that are included in the contract.
NON-EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT FOR INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS
L'annulation (partielle) d'une réservation est possible jusqu'à 24 heures avant la date d'arrivée, sans compensation pour les séjours d'une durée maximale de 7 nuits. D'autres conditions s'appliquent aux réservations à long terme. En cas d'annulation (partielle) d'une réservation moins de 24 heures avant la date d'arrivée, la partie qui annule est tenue de verser à l'autre partie une indemnité correspondant au montant de la première nuit. Si le client ne se présente pas à la date d'arrivée convenue, une indemnité forfaitaire du montant de la première nuit est due. Cette disposition ne s'applique qu'aux séjours d'une durée maximale de 7 nuits. D'autres conditions s'appliquent aux réservations à long terme. Les conditions susmentionnées ne s'appliquent qu'aux plans tarifaires assortis de conditions d'annulation souples. Dans le cas de plans tarifaires sans annulation, le montant total est toujours facturé.
If it is impossible for the hotel owner to execute the contract, he shall be obliged to offer the customer another accommodation of equal or higher quality or category. Any price difference arising therefrom shall be borne by the hotel owner.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CONTRACT
No contract can be dissolved before full execution thereof, except if mutually agreed otherwise between the parties. See also article 10 hereinabove. (Non-execution of the contract for individual bookings)
Every hotel owner has the possibility to determine (establish) the terms of notice and compensations for breach of contract that will be defined between the parties upon conclusion of the contract.
PAYMENT
The hotel owner has the possibility to request a full or partial advance payment. See article 26. (Advances) If the hotel owner in advance receives a sum of money from the contracting party, this will be considered as an advance payment on the contractual price, except if otherwise contractually agreed. Advance payments shall never be refundable.
The hotel bills shall be payable in cash upon presentation. In case of partial challenge to the hotel bill, the undisputed part is also to be paid in cash. Except if otherwise stipulated, in no case whatsoever the hotel owner shall be obliged to accept cheques, dividends, credit cards or other means of postponed payment and payment must be made in the currency of the country where the hotel is established.
The contracting party is responsible for payment of all the services provided to the customer, as well as the services that were defined upon conclusion of the contract, except if otherwise specified in writing, so that these shall be borne by the customer.
TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT
Si l'une des parties manque de manière grave ou répétée à ses obligations contractuelles, l'autre partie a le droit de résilier le contrat immédiatement et sans préavis.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOTEL OWNER AND CUSTODY OF PROPERTY BY THE HOTEL
L'hôtelier n'est pas responsable des dommages résultant d'un événement indépendant de sa volonté, même s'il a pris les mesures préventives nécessaires, compte tenu des circonstances et des conséquences (force majeure). Il n'est pas non plus responsable des dommages résultant de la faute du client (même partiellement).
The Civil Code (Law of 4 July 1972, Belgian Official Gazette of 19 August 1972) governs the custody of property by the hotel, the articles of which are presented below:
Article 1952: In his capacity of custodian the hotel owner shall be liable for any damage to, destruction or theft of items brought by a guest who takes up lodgings in the hotel. Deposits of these items must be considered deposits out of necessity.
Items brought by the guests are defined as items:
a)Which are present within the hotel for the time that the guest has been offered a sleeping accommodation there.
b)Which the hotel owner or a person offering him his services outside the hotel takes under his custody for the time that the guest has been offered a sleeping accommodation there.
c)Which the hotel owner or a person providing him his services inside or outside the hotel takes under his custody during a reasonable period before or after the time that the guest has been offered a sleeping accommodation there.
The liability as referred to in this article, is limited per case to 100 times the daily accommodation price of the sleeping accommodation. The King may, as the case may be, determine the data for determining that price. The Royal Decree of 24 June 1973 (Belgian Official Gazette of 14 August 1973) stipulates that the daily room rental price (which is referred to in article 1952, subparagraph 3) includes the amount of the night price, as published by the hotel owner, increased with a percentage (which may be stipulated) for the offered services.
Article 1953 : La responsabilité de l'hôtelier est illimitée :
a)When the items are placed into the hands of the hotel owner or of persons providing him their services, under his/their custody.
b)When he has refused to take items under custody which he is obliged to take under custody.
c)When the damage to, destruction or theft of the items as referred to in article 1952 is resulting from his fault or from the fault of persons providing him their services.
The hotel owner is obliged to take securities, money or valuable items under custody. He may refuse the custody thereof only if they are dangerous or if, considering the size of the hotel and the circumstances, they have an inordinate market value or cause inconvenience. He may desire that the items entrusted to him are kept in a closed or sealed packaging.
Article 1954: The hotel owner shall not be liable insofar as the damage, destruction or theft is due to:
a)The guest or a person accompanying him, working for him or visiting him.
b)Force majeure.
c)Theft committed by the force of arms.
d)The nature or lack of the item.
Article 1954bis : Le client est déchu de ses droits s'il ne signale pas le dommage immédiatement après qu'il en a eu connaissance, à moins que le dommage ne soit causé par la faute de l'hôtelier ou des personnes qu'il emploie.
Article 1954ter : Toute déclaration ou disposition excluant ou limitant la responsabilité de l'hôtelier en cas de perte ou de dommage est nulle.
Article 1954quater: The articles 1952, 1953 and 1954bis shall not apply to vehicles or to items that are part of their freight and are left on site, nor to living animals.
LIABILITY OF THE CUSTOMER/CONTRACTING PARTY
The customer and the contracting party shall be jointly and severally liable to the hotel owner for any damage caused to persons, the building, furniture or equipment of the hotel and places accessible to the public.
WITHHOLDING (RETENTION RIGHT) OF ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT BY THE CUSTOMER
L'hôtelier a le droit de conserver les objets apportés dans l'hôtel par le client pour garantir le paiement des sommes qui lui sont dues, et peut finalement vendre ces objets et tous les objets connexes qui ont une valeur marchande, sur la base de l'article 20, 6° de la loi sur les hypothèques.
LE COMPORTEMENT DU CLIENT
The customer must behave according to the customs and regulations of the hotel where he is staying; these regulations shall be available for the perusal of the customer.
Any serious or repeated breach of these regulations entitles the hotel owner to immediately terminate the contract without prior notice.
PETS
If a customer wishes to bring along a pet, he is to ensure that it is allowed by the hotel regulations prior to bringing the pet into the hotel.
OCCUPYING AND VACATING ROOMS: CHECK IN/ CHECK OUT
Unless otherwise contractually agreed, a room which has been reserved shall be made available for the customer at 3 pm and the customer shall vacate the room by 11 am on the day of departure.
TRAVELLER SCREENING
Upon his/her arrival at the hotel the customer is to present his/her identity card in order to allow for his/her registration in the police data sheet, which he/she is to sign.
LATE ARRIVAL
A late arrival, i.e. after the agreed arrival time, which was not notified by the customer shall automatically result in termination of the hotel contract, the hotel owner being entitled to compensation.
TELEPHONE RESERVATION
Telephone reservations accepted by the hotel owner shall be valid only until 6 pm. In case of any delay the customer is obliged to notify the hotel owner thereof and to indicate his exact time of arrival.
NON-PAYMENT
Les sommes d'argent non payées à leur échéance sont majorées de plein droit et sans mise en demeure d'intérêts de retard. Le montant de ces intérêts est égal aux intérêts appliqués par l'Association Belge des Banques aux facilités de caisse, majorés de 10%. Par contre, si l'hôtelier n'offre pas le logement convenu dans le contrat, il est dû au contractant une indemnité forfaitaire de 50 EUR par nuitée convenue et non fournie ; cette indemnité est majorée de plein droit des intérêts tels que précisés au premier alinéa. La disposition précitée est également applicable à l'hôtelier qui ne respecte pas ses obligations contractuelles à l'égard de ses clients.
Hotel bills that are subject to a price reduction, a refund or a commission, authorized by the hotel owner, shall be nullified in case of non-payment of the bill on expiry date.
CANCELLATION OF RESERVATIONS DURING THE STAY
En cas de raisons graves et avérées (maladie, accident, décès), seule la journée entamée sera facturée, l'hôtelier pouvant facturer les services de cette journée à sa discrétion.
In cases where the hotel owner is not responsible nor liable, the customer shall pay half of the remaining reserved period at the price per person of the requested services. With respect to the meals, in case of half or full board formula, half of the non-used meals shall be charged for a maximum of two days.
ADVANCES
Advances representing 30% of the total amount for the contractually agreed services must immediately be paid to the hotel owner, not later than 1 month prior to the date of arrival. In case of non-payment the hotel owner shall be entitled to cancel the hotel reservation without prior notice.
GROUPS
In the event of discounts being granted to groups, a group is understood to mean at least 20 paying persons actually presenting themselves at the hotel. The final number of customers must be announced to the hotel owner at least one week before their arrival. The indicated number is binding for settlement of the hotel bill.
In case of cancellation of group reservations the following costs shall be charged: We may allow a flexibility of 10% on the number of rooms booked. These rooms can be cancelled and modified free of charge up to 7 days prior to arrival. If the difference is higher than 10% on the number of rooms booked, then the following cancellation conditions shall apply:
- L'annulation sans frais est possible jusqu'à 3 mois avant l'arrivée ;
- Entre 3 mois et 2 mois avant l'arrivée : 30% du montant total annulé
- Entre 2 mois et 1 mois avant l'arrivée : 50% du montant total annulé ;
- Moins d'un mois avant l'arrivée : 100% du montant total annulé.
LAWS
Le contrat de réservation d'hôtel est soumis au droit belge. Tout litige découlant du présent contrat sera réglé devant le tribunal compétent du lieu d'établissement de l'hôtelier.
