70% of 194 hotels nationwide fail public safety checks — The Lalu Hotel by Sun Moon Lake also on the list

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

High-end, well-known hotels aren't necessarily safe. On the 8th, the Ministry of the Interior released the results of hotel safety inspections conducted from April to July this year. Out of 194 hotels nationwide inspected for fire safety and construction standards, only 63 passed all checks, with a failure rate of nearly 70%. Well-known hotels such as The Lalu Hotel by Sun Moon Lake, Kingswood Hotel in Yunlin’s Chianan, Sun Moon Lake Resort in Miaoli, and Four Points by Sheraton Zhonghe were all listed as non-compliant. Travelers may pay high prices but not get safe accommodation.

The Ministry of the Interior stated that among the inspection results across all counties and cities in Taiwan, Taipei City and Kaohsiung City had the highest pass rates, at nearly 60%, while Yunlin, Penghu, and Lienchiang County ranked at the bottom with all inspected venues failing. Among local governments, the Tainan City Government carried out the most thorough safety inspections, with over 90% consistency with central government checks. The lowest compliance was seen in Yunlin and Lienchiang County Governments, with no consistency at all. The Ministry of the Interior further pointed out that two-thirds of hotels nationwide have safety concerns.

▲ The Lalu Hotel by Sun Moon Lake, where a single night’s stay can cost over NT$10,000. (Photo / fromThe Lalu Hotel’s Facebook fan page)

The Ministry of the Interior’s Fire Department inspected both fire safety and construction aspects, including corridor width, public safety certification filings, fire safety equipment, and flame-retardant materials. Most non-compliant hotels failed in fire safety equipment. The Lalu Hotel by Sun Moon Lake had one fire safety equipment issue, Kingswood Hotel in Gukeng, Yunlin had three, and Sun Moon Lake Resort in Miaoli and Four Points by Sheraton Zhonghe each had two.

%冀：?酵踝哟蠓沟暌苍诖瞬?霉莨?膊缓细衩?ツ凇（图／取自Kingswood Hotel’s Facebook fan page)

The Lalu Hotel charges NT$16,800 per night for a double room, and rooms are hard to come by even on holidays, with an occupancy rate of around 80% on regular days. A Lalu Hotel spokesperson said the hotel’s fireproof red carpet itself meets standards, but failed to display the required flame-retardant label, and the supplier has been asked to make improvements. Kingswood Hotel responded that they have asked their internal team to confirm and will rectify any issues immediately. Currently, their summer occupancy rate is about 70%. Both Sun Moon Lake Resort and Four Points by Sheraton Zhonghe stated that the non-compliant fire safety equipment has been replaced, and assured consumers of their safety.