The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
FIRST RELEASE TICKETS ON SALE FOR URBANITY-25 CONNECTING PROPERTY LEADERS ACROSS THE ASIA PACIFIC
FIRST TICKETS ON SALE FOR URBANITY-25 WHERE THE PROPERTY INDUSTRY CONNECTS
SEE DETAILSDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
2
print
Print
HotelEditorial DeskMon 11 Mar 19

Accor Replaces Hotel Manager After Racially Segregating Guests

b7064e69-69e0-4da6-94cc-a53bd99b58b5

International hotels giant AccorHotels has appointed interim management to oversee its Ibis Styles hotel in Alice Springs in the wake of allegations that staff had been segregating Aboriginal guests into designated and inferior rooms.

The revelations, which were first reported by the ABC’s Background Briefing program, alleged that hotel staff had been directed to place guests from remote Aboriginal communities into lower quality rooms.

Undercover recordings and a whistleblower account revealed that Aboriginal guests were being charged the same pricing as other guests for rooms with dirty sheets, clothing belonging to former guests, exposed wires, as well as food and broken glass on the floor.

The instructions to racially profile guests were given in an email sent to Ibis Styles Alice Springs staff last June.

“These rooms are to be referred to as community rooms and we will try to limit them to just that, those coming from the communities. Reception ladies, please use a touch of initiative and allocate accordingly on arrival.”

--said an internal email obtained by the ABC.

Related: US Hospitality Giant Buys Darwin's SkyCity Casino

The outside of rooms at the Ibis Styles in Alice Springs.
Image: ABC


Non-negotiable values

Accor, which is the largest operator of hotels in Australia and the fourth-largest operator in the world, owns more than 3,500 hotels globally, including the budget Ibis Styles brand.

According to a statement released by the French multinational company, Accor has since initiated an investigation into the allegations and has taken “prompt and decisive action on this incident at the highest level”.

“At this time, interim management has been appointed to the hotel while we investigate,” a spokesperson from Accor said.

“We are extremely saddened and disappointed by this as it completely goes against our values and track record as a company with over 17 years of engagement with our Indigenous community, through our leading Indigenous programs.”

“An internal investigator has been appointed and we will appoint an external investigator to advise on this review.”

Accor has planned for anti-discrimination training over the coming days with every team member at the hotel participating in an attempt to reiterate the “non-negotiable values of the business” while the investigation is undertaken.

HotelAustraliaSector
AUTHOR
Editorial Desk
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Darwin has sat dormant for a decade but the resource rich territory is “on the threshold” of a boom for resources and new cities. Weddel and Palmerston
Exclusive

NT Eyes Looming Boom as Planning Commissioner Bows Out

Renee McKeown
5 Min
Exclusive

Gold Coast’s Greatest Moments Yet to Come: Evan Raptis

Phil Bartsch
7 Min
MODEL founder Rory Hunter HERO
Exclusive

‘It’s Massive’: On Mission to Prove BtR Green Equals Gold

Leon Della Bosca
8 Min
Potts Point Coliving EDM
Exclusive

Co-Living Shrugs Off Stigma as Overseas Money Moves In

Clare Burnett
6 Min
Bankstown cbd in Sydney NSW EDM
Exclusive

Breaking Delivery Crisis Chokehold on NSW’s Biggest Housing Market

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
View All >
Darwin has sat dormant for a decade but the resource rich territory is “on the threshold” of a boom for resources and new cities. Weddel and Palmerston
Exclusive

NT Eyes Looming Boom as Planning Commissioner Bows Out

Renee McKeown
Paradiso Place Surfers Paradise hero
Residential

Surfers Paradise $1bn Triple-Tower Project Feasibility Juggle

Phil Bartsch
East Walker St Aland EDM
Residential

Aland Scoops Up $240m North Sydney ‘Dream’ Site

Clare Burnett
A trio of development heavy-hitters this year won approval for two towers up to 30 storeys on the site…
LATEST
Darwin has sat dormant for a decade but the resource rich territory is “on the threshold” of a boom for resources and new cities. Weddel and Palmerston
Exclusive

NT Eyes Looming Boom as Planning Commissioner Bows Out

Renee McKeown
5 Min
Paradiso Place Surfers Paradise hero
Residential

Surfers Paradise $1bn Triple-Tower Project Feasibility Juggle

Phil Bartsch
4 Min
East Walker St Aland EDM
Residential

Aland Scoops Up $240m North Sydney ‘Dream’ Site

Clare Burnett
3 Min
Kemps Creek Penrith EDM
Industrial

Frasers $281m Penrith Warehouse Precinct Greenlit

Clare Burnett
3 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/accor-launches-alice-springs-investigation