Hotel investigates discrimination charge
By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Society/10046871.html
Dubai A five star hotel has suspended one of its security guards after two South Asian men were refused entry to a pub-cum-restaurant.
The Al Murooj Rotana has launched an investigation following complaints by two Sri Lankans that they were not allowed into Double Decker because of their skin colour. The news comes soon after a special investigation by Gulf News highlighted the issue of racial discrimination in entry policies.
Revan Wickramasuriya and Dilshan Hettiartchi said white people were allowed to walk past them into Double Decker while they remonstrated with security personnel on June 7 at 10pm.
An official complaint was forwarded by them to the Department of Tourism Commerce and Marketing (DTCM) as well as the hotel management.
"The department is very strict about complaints that speak of racial discrimination. The department also takes into account all the documentary evidence before coming to a conclusion. There have been cases where hotel management has forwarded an apology to the complainant," said a DTCM official.
Hussain Hachem, general manager of Al Marooj Rotana, told Gulf News that the security guard in question will remain suspended until the investigations are over.
"This is the second time in a week we have received such complaints and on both occasions the same security guard happened to be on the scene. We also checked the CCTV frames. The security guard has misbehaved.
"How can we be racist? We have 43 different nationalities working for the hotel. You can come and see the various nationalities who gather here to watch the World Cup football matches."
He said an apology was forwarded to Wickramasuriya by the Food and Beverages manager of the hotel.
Invite
Wickramasuriya told Gulf News that they were invited for dinner at the Double Decker pub-cum-restaurant by a visiting colleague.
"The hotel security guard informed us that as per the house rules only hotel guests or couples were allowed entry. At that point a number of Caucasians who walked in were not stopped at the door," said Wickramasuriya. "Despite being informed by our host that we have made dinner reservations, we were still asked to leave the venue."
According to him, when the hotel staff found them persistent in trying to gain entry they were accused by the security personnel of being improperly dressed.
"They pointed to the shoes worn by one of our colleagues and said the laces were undone which is inappropriate for the pub. When our colleague told them that he would do the lace up prior to entering the pub, the staff came up with another excuse of him wearing a pair of boots.
"Other white skinned patrons, who entered the pub while we were standing trial at the door were dressed very similar to us. We then moved on to another hotel located on the same street which did not have any problem letting us in," said Wickramasuriya.
Follow-up
The DTCM official said: "The department writes to the hotel or pub and asks to clarify when we get such complaints. Meetings with the hotel managements and companies against whom a complaint has been filed are also held. Then there is a consistent follow-up done," said the official. "A reply is also forwarded to the complainant."
Restrictions on entry 'unlawful'
As per the DTCM circular issued to general managers of all hotels and furnished apartments, sport and leisure clubs on April 4, 1999: Food and beverage outlets of hotel establishments, sports and leisure clubs, restaurants and resorts are not permitted to impose any entry restrictions relating to race, colour and profession of guests and customers.
The number of complaints received by DTCM in the first five months is 159.
The number of complaints registered against hotels is 42.
Forms are also available at the Dubai International Airport for visitors to register complaints.
Complaints can also be registered directly on to the department's website:
http://dubaitourism.ae.