Holiday Inn branded ‘inhumane’ for ‘denying’ homeless mens’ bookings in -6C freeze
The two men were turned away from a hotel in Manchester city centre in sub-zero temperatures, despite a booking being made and paid for in full on their behalf via Booking.com
Two homeless men were refused a night of warmth at a Holiday Inn in Manchester city centre as temperatures plunged to -6C, despite a booking that had already been settled.
Amanda Thompson, from outreach group Two Brews, had utilised Booking.com to secure two double rooms, complete with breakfast, for the pair of men she assists whilst they’re sleeping rough on the city’s streets. With the bitter sub-zero conditions outside, she dipped into donations and her own funds to arrange the booking, hoping to get the two men out of the harsh freeze.
This occurred on Monday, mere days following the heartbreaking discovery of homeless father Anthony Horn, who was tragically found dead on Boxing Day morning. The 47 year old is believed to have perished from the cold after being discovered along a walkway beside a canal near the Bridgewater Hall.
The bill for both rooms came to more than £200, which included a nightly rate of £51 per room plus a £50 damage deposit. After the two men were accompanied to the Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road, a member of staff on reception then explained how they couldn’t honour the booking.
In footage shared with the Manchester Evening News and captured by Instagram user @madd_manneh, who had walked the two men to the hotel, the receptionist can be heard stating: “Guys, I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not going to be able to check you in. Full truth and transparency, I know that you’re from the street and the hotel doesn’t allow it.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“It’s not a personal thing. We know people, I’ve been doing the door for a long while. It’s the company’s policy. It’s not mine personally, it’s the company’s.”
The two men were later booked into a nearby Travelodge, which accepted the booking.
Amanda, who funded the bookings through donations alongside her own money, condemned the Holiday Inn’s actions as ‘visual discrimination’ and ‘inhumane’, particularly as the two rough sleepers were refused entry on a bitter night when temperatures had dropped to -6C.
“I couldn’t get enough rooms at Travelodge, and some of the people we support can’t walk very far so I need to book them in into the nearest place,” she revealed.
“The nearest place I could get them in was the Holiday Inn. I put it through, got the confirmation and they were taken down to check in for the night. After getting there it was just complete discrimination by appearance.
“It’s disgusting. We then went back to the Travelodge on Upper Brook Street and they accepted them straight away and were so helpful. We had six or seven people in there who we supported on the Sunday night, and got four dogs in too.
“I can’t wrap my head around how you can go to the desk, with a booking that is paid for, and turned away just for being a rough sleeper. They could’ve been hard working men and they have been judged on how they look. They just took one look at them and made the decision. It’s inhumane.
“When booking, I had to pay the £50 deposit for damages and breakages, so if anything had happened I’d have been charged. They just wanted somewhere warm to stay. I don’t understand what the problem was. It’s ridiculous with everything going on, and it was -6C. It was so cold. It made me so angry. It’s so frustrating and I had a wave of emotions.”
Once the video hit the internet, comments poured in, one of which read: “Everyone deserves a chance in these conditions, terrible attitude.”
Another retorted: “Cannot believe they wouldn’t let them stay”.
IHG, the company behind the Holiday Inn brand, claims on its website that it ‘offers access for all’ and strives to ‘make hotel facilities available and accessible to all guests equally’, adding: “In rare instances where this is not possible, we will endeavour to offer a suitable alternative.”
During the Covid-19 lockdown, the Holiday Inn Express in Gorton served as a shelter for hundreds of homeless individuals who were subsequently provided assistance to secure other accommodation.
The Manchester Evening News reached out to IHG, the InterContinental Hotels Group, which manages the Holiday Inn Express, but received no response.
