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The economic department of the Israel Hotel Association report that for its members to make their hotels fully kosher for the upcoming Passover holiday there is an additional cost of between 30 and 40 percent compared to other times of the year.   To make a large hotel, compliant with Glatt (highest level) kosher regulations adds up to 60 percent to its costs.

The preparations for the upcoming Passover holiday are well under way.  For hotels the cost of making their hotels fully kosher are significant, ranging from 80 thousand shekels ($20 thousand) for a small hotel, up to 1.2 million shekels ($300 thousand) for a large hotel which wants to be regarded as Glatt kosher.   

Despite lower demand for hotel accommodation this Passover compared to 2008, the hoteliers have reduced the cost of a hotel night.   Shmuel Zuriel, the CEO of the Israel Hotel Association said that hotels overseas do not have the additional expenses leading up to the Passover holiday.

He added that with the global economic crisis, hoteliers have reduced their prices in order to ease the burden on the guest, so it is unfair to compare the cost of staying in a hotel in Israel with those overseas, since they do not have the additional extra costs leading up to Passover.

The Israel Hotel Association explain that the total cost of preparing hotels in Israel for the Passover holiday is close to 80 million shekels ($20 million).  The costs include the purchase of kosher food, purchase of basic foodstuffs, koshering the kitchens and kitchen equipment as well as purchasing new equipment, organizing and managing the seder night ceremony as well as the higher wage costs in preparation for the Passover festival.