Do hotels not do any sort of vetting of the types of conferences they host?
In this post:
Nick Fuentes hosts conference at Residence Inn
White nationalist Nick Fuentes wasn’t allowed at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this past weekend, over his radical beliefs (including loving Hitler and denying that the Holocaust happened). Just for context, Marjorie Taylor Greene was a speaker at CPAC, to give you a sense of just what it takes to be kicked out of the conference. So instead Fuentes hosted his own America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC) across the street, at the Residence Inn by Marriott at the National Harbor in Maryland.
During this event, which was attended by dozens of people (and literally just dozens, since the property’s biggest conference room can accommodate at most 100 people), Fuentes talked about his love of Hitler (he literally said “I love Hitler”), and the need to eradicate feminism, liberalism, Judaism, and satanism.
Below you can see some of the clips from his speech at the conference.
When a journalist tried to record outside the hotel, the security kept calling him “fatty,” and the crowd chanted “you are fat,” followed by “you are gay.”
Meanwhile a uniformed security officer for the hotel came outside saying “no footage,” and that “Marriott doesn’t want you taking pictures.”
Marriott has to do better than this
It goes without saying that many hotels are in the business of hosting conferences, and the views expressed during a conference don’t necessarily reflect the views of the hotel. After all, they’re just a venue. However, surely there should be some line that won’t be crossed when it comes to the kinds of conferences that hotels will host.
Where is that line? I don’t know exactly, but I do know that hosting a conference of Hitler worshippers who essentially think anyone who isn’t a white Christian should be eradicated crosses that line.
This isn’t just about general values and being a decent company, as it goes beyond that. How do you think a Black or Jewish guest or employee would feel at the hotel while this is going on? Heck, how should a gay guest or employee feel if members of this conference are chanting “you are gay” outside the entrance to the hotel?
You can be asked to leave a hotel for bad behavior, and I’d expect that if someone made slurs against another guest, they’d be asked to leave. But to host a conference of dozens of people like this? Wow…
Marriott claims its core values are as follows:
Our core values make us who we are. As we change and grow, the beliefs that are most important to us stay the same—putting people first, pursuing excellence, embracing change, acting with integrity and serving our world. Being part of Marriott International means being part of a proud history and a thriving culture.
I don’t think there’s anything about hosting a conference like this that lines up with Marriott’s alleged core values.
Now, let me of course acknowledge that presumably this conference didn’t get corporate approval from Marriott, but rather these kinds of agreements are negotiated by individual properties. That being said, this reflects that perhaps the guidelines for individual properties aren’t strict enough for vetting the kinds of conferences being hosted.
Bottom line
Nick Fuentes wasn’t welcome at CPAC due to his radical beliefs, so he hosted his own conference across the street… at a Residence Inn by Marriott. During his speech, he talked about his love for Hitler, and how Jews, feminists, liberals, etc., all need to be eradicated.
C’mon Marriott, you need to do better than this…
Oh wow...always amazed how a developed country can be that full of religious morons.
So many religious fundamentalists in the US, on the far left, on the far right and in the middle as well.
I think that's what you call second hand embarressment.
THANK YOU, Ben, for standing up and voicing this! I have written Marriott to advise them they have lost my business.
Thanks, Ben, for taking this up.
It is said that "Jews are the canary in the coal mine" in order to to detect wether a country is on the slippery decline towards fascism. You might add gays or other minorities.
A Nick Fuentes doesn't need any vetting. He should be well known especially to Marriott, as this chain hosted him last year in Orlando in similar circumstances.
I searched online and didn't find...
Thanks, Ben, for taking this up.
It is said that "Jews are the canary in the coal mine" in order to to detect wether a country is on the slippery decline towards fascism. You might add gays or other minorities.
A Nick Fuentes doesn't need any vetting. He should be well known especially to Marriott, as this chain hosted him last year in Orlando in similar circumstances.
I searched online and didn't find any reaction/explanation/excuse so far from Marriott, so I take it they are just fine with becoming a go-to place for the extremist right.
Last year I stayed twice at Marriotts. Not any more.
You realize if the right wanted to boycott the far left they’d basically have no hotels to stay at or stores to shop at. From sponsoring marginally racist organizations like BLM to supporting sexualized sexual displays for children, there’s no escape.
Fuentes is a clown, and who cares if he gets to spew his hate. I think it’s a good barometer of where we are in this country that nobody showed up for it....
You realize if the right wanted to boycott the far left they’d basically have no hotels to stay at or stores to shop at. From sponsoring marginally racist organizations like BLM to supporting sexualized sexual displays for children, there’s no escape.
Fuentes is a clown, and who cares if he gets to spew his hate. I think it’s a good barometer of where we are in this country that nobody showed up for it. It’s not the responsibility of a corporation to ensure all of their clients support your values. Where do you draw the line? Should Costco not sell him bottled water for the event?
This is beyond a Marriott problem. CPAC is nauseating, AFPAC frightening. It's like Dante's Inferno. We are descending into the circles of hell
Marriott has nothing to do with this. I've never seen any contract for a meeting room or ballroom request to present the content/program to hotel management for review. How many people were at that event? Probably less than 200 people if at all, nothing worth to get ones panties in a bunch over. Like the content or not, as long as there are no criminal acts based on local laws this is a totally legitimate...
Marriott has nothing to do with this. I've never seen any contract for a meeting room or ballroom request to present the content/program to hotel management for review. How many people were at that event? Probably less than 200 people if at all, nothing worth to get ones panties in a bunch over. Like the content or not, as long as there are no criminal acts based on local laws this is a totally legitimate event, no need to turn it down. The speaker (allegedly, I didn't watch the presentation) praised Hitler, so what!? There are worse things being propagated every day that really affect peoples lives compared to some lunatic at a Residence Inn meeting room somewhere in the middle of shit.
Stick to airline reviews. We don't care for political extremists on either side. We just want to know how much better our lives would be if only we would just get the latest credit card from Chase.
Our political extremists push for green energy, a living wage, and universal healthcare.
Yours storm the Capitol and try to overthrow the government.
Don’t be a mental midget trying to make them seem equivalent.
‘Ours’ might be the ones who push for healthcare, a living wage, universal healthcare while flying a Bombardier global van nuys to las, pay taxes in MonteCarlo, get concierge healthcare at Mayo Clinic. Far less disgusting than the neoNazis, but more hypocritical and NOT my leaders. True, let’s stick to airline reviews
"Our political extremists push for green energy, a living wage, and universal healthcare."
You mean burn down police stations, shoot a police officer at a proposed training facility, burn down sections of downtowns, attack federal courthouses..
Bravo!!
So why is this person important
He's not. It's some kid who self-admits that he didn't even have a girlfriend until he was almost 25, blames it on dark skinned people, and wants to punish the world for it.
Went from whining about blueballs to realizing he could make money off of blaming it on others.
Yes Marriott as a business could allow them their rights of free speech. Suppose Adidas could have done that with Kanye BUT some companies act with integrity and do what is right and stand up against ignorant anti semitism and racism simply because it’s the right thing to do. Sad that this needs to be explained to some.
I think this post falls under the “if you aren’t part of the solution…” mindset. I don’t mind Ben using his platform for this kind of story because it can reach many people — more than I can. I hope it can (even in some small part) help another person / hotel identify and restrict similar groups. That said, groups like these will either find another space or “spread love” by name calling or physical violence. Classy.
Well Ben is a Jew and you can expect more posts like this in what's meant to be actually a travel blog
Hey CPAC needs a place to meet…..
If you disagree with the Marriott's stand, just take your business elsewhere. No need to give these morons free publicity. You are doing more to publicize their message than they ever will at the Marriott event with less than 100 guests.
Revolting beliefs NEED to be highlighted and exposed!!! Keeping you head buried in the sand will never do anything to educate yourself or other people!!
This empty bag of chips over here knows more about free speech than you, tootse.
Apparently Fred is more concerned about berating someone as a pansy snowflake rather than understanding what the first amendment is all about. The key phrase is that the government shall do nothing to abridge the right of free speech. Nothing in the first amendment prohibits non government organizations or individuals from making their own decisions about who to allow to speak at their venues.
Learn to read. I said freedom of speech which, while protected by the First, is not contingent on it. Nowhere did I mention the First Amendment.
Run along, snowflake.
American obviously. Such a f— up country where racists Nazis and gun owners have more rights than drag artists.
Land of the free, where nothing is and you’re free to abuse and discriminate.
Icarus is clearly one of those silly little Europeans that only exists because the US and the UK saved them.
Lets be clear, The Residence Inn likely had no idea what this group represented. No bad there.
The Residence Inn DID DO BAD when they got involved in having their employees or agents chase press photographers away, off public property.
Imagine that if you reached out to the diverse RLJ group to rent facilities for a KK. meeting. They will quite quickly refuse the meeting. Just saying.
All you have to do is Google the kid's name and endless articles (which all pre-date this event) come up about who he is and his beliefs. I'd expect any organization to do bare minimum due diligence before signing off on sanctioning an event.
If you believe that a hotel is going to probe into the nature of someones personality or request content for review before renting out a meeting room then you're one of the move naive people I've ever seen in my life. Laughable!
Stefan, there's no "probe". As someone who rents more than 100 facilities, I can tell you that "Who are you" and "What do you plan to do with the asset we own" is the bare minimum of contractual requirement for renting space.
Chuck - Not sure what these "facilities" are but this event was held in a hotel meeting room. He didn't rent the Hollowood Bowl or Madison Square Garden. Hotels don't ask some dimwit who rents a meeting room what the purpose and content of his presentation is. And unless he has a notorious household name (never heard of this guy before) nobody knows who he is.
The Residence Inn **IS** responsible for knowing nature of the activity that will occur on its premises. Anyone responsibly managing space will hold themselves to that bare minimum of expectations.
Sorry just because you don't like something doesn't mean you can cancel it :) Your wokeness is showing.
Such an ignorant statement. It’s not a question of liking something, it’s giving oxygen to Nazis and racists who believe in exterminating an entire group of people.
If you prohibit them, they won’t have anywhere to gather.
I like how it’s now “woke” to think that genocide is bad.
I read Jackson's message twice and still can't find any mention of Hilter's support or love for genocide.
I like how it's now not being a *woke* supporter makes you a racist, genocide lover and anti-trans person.
Ive booked a lot of conference rooms for meetings, they dont typically ask you what you will be discussing.
Not really fair to blast Marriott, or the actual property for this.
I agree it’s not fair to blast Marriott as they rarely ask me when I book for my company. However, maybe they will take note now and start doing so.
Though, even if they do, I am sure groups like this will say it’s about spreading love or it’s a God event. Something vague or doublespeak-ish.
Not the first time.
In South Park, CO, the local airport Hilton hosted a Ginger Pride rally, that was hosted by the notorious anti-Semite Eric Cartman. The plan of these ginger extremists was to exterminate all non ginger people.
Dont forget about the NAMBLA conferences also held at said airport Hilton.
Completely different.
Gingers have no souls.
That's now how the First Amendment works, Adolf.
Nick Fuentes is reprehensible, but why don’t we focus on exposing the idiocy of his racist, pro-Hitler ideas rather than blaming a hotel (which presumably lets anyone book a room) for letting him speak? There’s too much focus on silencing people. It seems obvious that Marriott isn’t endorsing these ideas just by furnishing paid-for conference space — and rather than censor terrible speakers, we should let them speak so their idiocy and hatred can be...
Nick Fuentes is reprehensible, but why don’t we focus on exposing the idiocy of his racist, pro-Hitler ideas rather than blaming a hotel (which presumably lets anyone book a room) for letting him speak? There’s too much focus on silencing people. It seems obvious that Marriott isn’t endorsing these ideas just by furnishing paid-for conference space — and rather than censor terrible speakers, we should let them speak so their idiocy and hatred can be exposed for what it is.
It's the actions of the hotel security that was wrong. Agreed, however, that they can't be blamed for what's said inside a meeting room.
Wow. Wrong and offensive.
Much like your mother.
It's obviously unlikely that Marriott corporate, or the franchise owner, knew anything about the content of the event. Someone likely walked up to the hotel to book the event directly with the hotel manager. Perhaps the hotel thought it was CPAC overflow or something. By the time the hotel manager, Marriott or whoever got wind of the event, it was likely already occurring.
I mean, in one sense, it was CPAC overflow.
Disagree with OP that Marriott is to blame. How would Marriott even know what the conference is about?
Anyone can just book a conference. Asking people about the details of their conference would be intrusive and people could still simply lie. Imagine a hotel hosting your wedding, asking you "what kind of wedding?" Such a question could be offensive to a couple hosting a safe sex wedding
"How are you going to use my space?" THAT is intrusive??? Come on.
Have any of you ever actually booked an event at a hotel? I have. Don't know about you, but they never asked me what the event was about.
What about black or gay employees? I believe they would have recourse under the law.
Under what law exactly? Let us know, Bob Shapiro! Just stop, you're embarrassing yourself!
Found the constitutional law professor
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that when Fuentes (or whoever else) booked the conference room, they weren't exactly honest when they gave the description of the event. But then when the event actually happened, it was too late.
A Residence Inn front desk clerk is not going to ask them to leave. And they're not committing a crime, so they can't call the police to force them to leave.
As others have opined free speech was meant to always be pretty or right. Remember the ACLU several decades ago defended Nazis the right to march.
That being said Marriott is a private enterprise (and also the franchisee that actually owns and operates the property) and could have declined this business.
Also, despite what the press would have you believe this is a fringe group of total losers looking for publicity. If the press...
As others have opined free speech was meant to always be pretty or right. Remember the ACLU several decades ago defended Nazis the right to march.
That being said Marriott is a private enterprise (and also the franchisee that actually owns and operates the property) and could have declined this business.
Also, despite what the press would have you believe this is a fringe group of total losers looking for publicity. If the press largely ignored these morons (like the press used to) they'd go back to their mother's basement watching porn.
And MIT held a famous and serious alien abductions conference. Doesn’t mean to say that MlT agrees with the multitude of people who attended, spoke, and believe that aliens have abducted them. Money is money.
One of the most difficult things to do is be tolerant to those who are intolerant of you.
Definitely one of the stupidest false equivalences I’ve read recently. Kudos.
Freedom of speech doesn’t allow non-owners to come into your home, against your wishes, and blast a loud-speaker saying yours is the home of a possible terrorist, pedophile or other sick criminal.
Just as you can lawfully prohibit use of your home for such speech and expression, so can a hotel owner do the same.
Shame on you for posting this. This is a travel blog not a political blog. Although I doubt the author wouldn’t know the difference.
Would you feel the same if the blog author wrote an article about a hotel hosting an ANTIFA or BLM convention? Doubt it. Your comment reveals your true colors.
Shame on you for telling the author, on his own blog, what he should write about.
Well said!!! It's no longer a pure travel blog now
Guy says "I love Hitler" and commenters here playing whataboutism and crying out about free speech.
Says it all to me.
If you haven't figured out that Marriott doesn't care if you're gay, straight, white black, jew, white nationalist, or even an outright terrorist (not to mention not caring that you're a loyal customer/platinum/titantium)--- as long as you fork over your dollars, I don't know what to tell you.
But they sure love putting Mormon propaganda in the nightstand in every one of their rooms around the world.
It’s too hard to draw that line. I also doubt they told Marriott it was a Fuentes /Hitler thing. Do you expect them to cancel the event and kick everyone out who used the group code,
I was recently at a hotel holding a women in the workforce conference, with fliers out suggesting how to promote more women from in. This is pushing to violate the Title VII civil right of all of the men at those companies - should that conference be allowed?
Slippery slope stuff.
Figuring out how to promote more women from within, with the goal of equity in the workforce, does not violate mens civil rights. The exception would be if one of the things they're suggesting is to not promote men.
Because promoting women in the workplace and slaughtering millions of people in gas chambers is so very similar.
Any lawyers out there for question #2 ? Questions..... (1) Did the hotel know who they were? What did Nick Fuentes or the "America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC)" tell the hotel about themselves or their agenda when booking? They may not have been honest about their agenda. (2) If the hotel had refused, or if they did not know until hearing the groups speech, could they have been sued for shutting it down?
The hotel can refuse service to anyone they want. Just like a baker can refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple. The right fought hard for this clarification.
The bake shop appeared to be a sole proprietor (owned by a person), where this hotel is a corporation. Do individuals have different standards under the law than corporations?
Example....... the baker as an individual stated he would sell them birthday cakes or other products, just not a wedding cake. But if a that same couple walked into a supermarket chain's bakery department, I don't think the supermarket could have refused to make the...
The bake shop appeared to be a sole proprietor (owned by a person), where this hotel is a corporation. Do individuals have different standards under the law than corporations?
Example....... the baker as an individual stated he would sell them birthday cakes or other products, just not a wedding cake. But if a that same couple walked into a supermarket chain's bakery department, I don't think the supermarket could have refused to make the wedding cake? That's why I am wondering if there is a difference between corporations and sole proprietorships (individuals)?
No, there is little-to-no difference between First Amendment rights of individuals or corporations. Yes, a grocery store chain could, in fact, refuse to make a cake that said "Heil Hitler!," for example, as they should be allowed to.
@rrapynot You are conflating two different things. Renting a hotel room is generally not considered to be an expressive activity. Making a custom, themed cake, photography, etc. on the other hand are inherently expressive activities. Compelling someone to participate in an expressive activity is a clear violation of the First Amendment right to free speech. On the other hand, courts have generally not held that non-expressive activities (like renting a hotel room or serving a...
@rrapynot You are conflating two different things. Renting a hotel room is generally not considered to be an expressive activity. Making a custom, themed cake, photography, etc. on the other hand are inherently expressive activities. Compelling someone to participate in an expressive activity is a clear violation of the First Amendment right to free speech. On the other hand, courts have generally not held that non-expressive activities (like renting a hotel room or serving a meal) are protected under the free speech clause, which is why public accommodation laws still exist.
It's unlikely that the hotel asked or that the people booking the 'conference' told them anything about what it was going to be about. It's not something that is normally asked.
As far as whether they could sue if refused... technically yes in the sense that you can sue nearly anyone for anything, but they would almost certainly lose such a suit.
@vbscipt2 Thank you
Yes let’s get some more lawyer’s out-the salt if this nation
The hotel likely didn't ask (I've never been asked what my meetings, presentations were about after 50+ events) and unless the event violates the law or poses a security threat I don't see why the property would care. For example, controversial authors rent hotel conference rooms all the time for readings, speaking engagements and book signings.
White Supremacists are not a protected class under the Constitution, so there is no non-frivolous complaint Fuentes and co. could have if Marriott refused them the space.
People are being naive, those words about Marriotts values and principles are just words. Somebody in HR just checking a box to make it look like Marriott has some values. The real guiding principle for at modern day Marriott is $$$$, and these guys were willing to pay
This event looks absolutely disgusting. BUT I don't think that Marriott corporate should prohibit their franchisees from hosting any lawful event of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights. Lucky, I'm disappointed that you trumpet Marriott over and over in the article and wait until the very end to say "Now, let me of course acknowledge that presumably this conference didn’t get corporate approval from Marriott, but rather these kinds of agreements are negotiated by individual...
This event looks absolutely disgusting. BUT I don't think that Marriott corporate should prohibit their franchisees from hosting any lawful event of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights. Lucky, I'm disappointed that you trumpet Marriott over and over in the article and wait until the very end to say "Now, let me of course acknowledge that presumably this conference didn’t get corporate approval from Marriott, but rather these kinds of agreements are negotiated by individual properties." This has little to nothing to do with Marriott. If you want to be outraged at the decision maker you might have figured out who owns this hotel.
Refusing to do business with a hate group has got nothing to do with 1A and Marriot is not stifling free speech by refusing hate on their property
First Amendment means the GOVERNMENT can't punish you for your free speech. It doesn't require the rest of us or a private business to be obligated to host or hear your bullshit.
A Residence Inn probably doesn't have an events team with the size and expertise of a major convention hotel. I'd assume the reason was either cluelessness (didn't do their research) or maybe someone shares their political affiliation.
I assume this blog shows the same outrage when Rashida Tlaib spews her anti-Jewish rhetoric in Congress, right?
Right?
This is a travel blog. Why would a travel blog write about Tlaib. Travelers do go to Mariotts though and this traveler is slightly less likely to pick a Mariott for his next stay.
I think businesses that allow people to rent out a space and host these kinds of hateful and history denying events should be shamed, like this.
On the other hand, how much better is it to travel to states that still persecute, and sometimes kill, homosexual or women who don't listen to men? I think that's something to think about.
The list of those states is not short-but even world cups get organized there. Money doesn’t stink.
United States of America under the watch of Joe Biden Hosts Marriott which Hosts White Nationalist Conference Where Speaker Praises Hitler.
It never ends.
When will you woke from the woke.
“Under the watch of Joe Biden” VS as participated and supported by the Republican Party and Donald Trump. WTF was your point? Pure stupidity. I think I will stay on the “woke” side of life.
I did not know about the event. i did not attend the event. I did not livestream the event. I don't know or care about Nick Fuentes. Don't give them the attention they crave. Also, don't fall down the slippery slope of banning things we don't like. They will die a natural death if you ignore them and don't feed them.
Right. Just like bullies stop bothering you if you ignore them. Curious... on what planet do you live?
I was hoping that anti-semitism in the country was on a fast track to disappearing during the course of my life, but sadly it is not going that way nowadays.
The growing tolerance for intolerance and hatred directed at Muslims and “brown people” after 9/11 created additional space for anti-semitism since hatred for one really creates openings and revivals for hatred of other minorities too.
It’s no irony that the very Trump who built his...
I was hoping that anti-semitism in the country was on a fast track to disappearing during the course of my life, but sadly it is not going that way nowadays.
The growing tolerance for intolerance and hatred directed at Muslims and “brown people” after 9/11 created additional space for anti-semitism since hatred for one really creates openings and revivals for hatred of other minorities too.
It’s no irony that the very Trump who built his political career on Islamophobia hosted this guy and Kanye West.
It was getting better until 2009 and then something changed.
I wonder what that was...
Two words:
Social Media
It gave all the nut jobs and extremists an easy way to radicalize and put all their screwed up ideas in a convenient, virtual place. No need to go looking for places to discreetly hang out.
Statistics show majority of the people who gained/leveraged are those Q-Anons, flat-earthers, religious extremists, and Christian Nationals. The FBI domestic terrorism activities show the rise in that.
Exactly.
From growing Fox News to Facebook and other internet business that gets it rise from audience engagement via bait memes, the hate machine was unleashed on America and our minorities.
I assume that you are being sarcastic but if not...
BLM burned cities and murdered people in the Summer of 2020 not Q-Anons, flat-earthers, religious extremists, and Christian Nationals.
Antifa continues to carry out terrorist acts as recently as three days ago in Atlanta. Are they Q-Anons, flat-earthers, religious extremists, or Christian Nationals?
The FBI is disgrace and has zero credibility on almost anything so I am not sure why you would trust them to...
I assume that you are being sarcastic but if not...
BLM burned cities and murdered people in the Summer of 2020 not Q-Anons, flat-earthers, religious extremists, and Christian Nationals.
Antifa continues to carry out terrorist acts as recently as three days ago in Atlanta. Are they Q-Anons, flat-earthers, religious extremists, or Christian Nationals?
The FBI is disgrace and has zero credibility on almost anything so I am not sure why you would trust them to tell you the truth.
JH, what is Antifa? Can you direct me to the group's web page? Do they have pamphlets? What are their goals?
That Fox News went into hateful overdrive after 9/11 and then got a even more supercharged in and following 2008 when a “biracial” Christian American with a typical Muslim name as a middle name got elected by the great American people.
Fox News and its fan boys echo chamber boosted Islamophobia and grew the public space of tolerance for intolerance directed at ethnic and religious minorities.
Today, our government and its media lapdogs are busy trying to convince us that some Ukrainians in row boats blew up the nordstream pipeline, after the venerable Seymour Hersch broke the truth (which US media universally ignored but was covered elsewhere) that we (the US) did it. I’m sorry but I can’t get excited about a handful of neo nazis in a residence inn when we are being lied to about major ecological disasters and the potential impetus for WWIII.
Has it occurred to you that the reason US media universally ignore Sy Hersch's purported "scoop" was that they could not independently verify it? Moreover, the word is that Sy Hersch, now working for himself, published the "scoop" on his own after he peddled it to reputable publications in the US and...
Has it occurred to you that the reason US media universally ignore Sy Hersch's purported "scoop" was that they could not independently verify it? Moreover, the word is that Sy Hersch, now working for himself, published the "scoop" on his own after he peddled it to reputable publications in the US and none was interested. It is, however, quite telling who circulated the "scoop": RT radio and the news agency TASS, both Russian government mouthpieces.
Lastly, is this venerable Seymour Hersch, the very same one who told an interviewer in 2018, "I don't necessarily buy the story that Bin Laden was responsible for 9/11. We really don't have an ending to the story. I’ve known people in the [intelligence] community. We don't know anything empirical about who did what"? [1]
[1] El-Gingihy, Youssef (July 31, 2018). "Legendary journalist Seymour Hersh on novichok, Russian links to Donald Trump and 9/11". The Independent. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
Also some good news this wasn’t at a Hilton property where this conference took place
The vetting process consisted of the following: “Did the check clear? If so, he’s good to go.” Does this really surprise anyone? It sure didn’t surprise me. Just don’t expect any elite benefits ….
Not sure why this is newsworthy or surprising to anyone. Towns have hosted KKK marches willingly or unwillingly for decades. I mean if the guy makes a hotel or restaurant reservation, should it just be canceled? Glad I'm not a franchise or owner who has to handle things like this.
I've never understood the logic of giving these morons the attention they so desperately crave.
Just ignore them.
Looks more like stupidity than malice. I'm sure the hotel is embarrassed and the owner furious. Guys like these are always going to find a place to host them, either by pretending they're a Mary Kay group, or by influencing a tame hotel employee. Marriott will now respond predictably as will the property. News worthy? Interesting?
“News worthy? Interesting?”
Yes to both.
And *important* for those who keep track of hate groups and their activities.
The only entity that needs to "keep track" of hate groups and terrorists is law enforcement and the mandated government agencies. Sick and tired of these self-appointed sheriff's on either side of the political spectrum.
The hotel is owned by RLJ Lodging Trust and the CEO is a black woman, who is constantly preaching about equity and diversity. Shame on us for thinking its more than lip service…profits over morals I guess
Not sure why someone's race or gender is germane to an accusation of hypocrisy. Surely the disconnect between their words and actions is enough to demonstrate the point?
Primarily because you cited Marriott as the bad guy when in fact, as you knew, this property is owned and operated by RLJ Lodging. Marriott had nothing to do with it.
If you were not trying to feed a false narrative you would have called out RLJ.
I like your blog but you often let partisan narratives guide your writing.
Franchise contracts can have clauses in them that expose a franchisee to contract termination or liability for willful action or gross negligence that results in damage to the franchisor’s brand/reputation. From my perspective, this pitiful event probably doesn’t rise to that level, but if a franchisee started hoisting Nazi or KKK flags right next to the Marriott flags then I would hope Marriott would have and exercise such clause.
Two points, David:
1) I am not Ben Schlappig.
2) The issue of whether blame, if any, lies with Marriott or RLJ is a separate issue of whether someone's race/gender matters for the hypocrisy accusation.
Please try to read and think more carefully before posting!
Patrisse Cullors cares just enough about Black Lives to allow her to purchase $12 million in luxury properties for herself and her family.
You're right...equity and diversity are a scam.
A small event booking like this probably would not have risen to her level.
Of course it wouldn't have crossed her desk, BUT they could have corporate guidelines set on what conference content they will not allow at their hotels. I believe that's what Lucky was suggesting Marriott do across its massive global footprint. It would be much simpler at the scale of RLJ lodging to implement something like this.
Maybe some still believe in free speech. Or does free speech mean that you can speak freely about all the right things only?
Free speech at least in the USA, can't speak for Finland means you cannot be locked up by the state for what comes out of your mouth, actually even that has its limits. Private companies can refuse services to Nazis or they can host them. The public is allowed to judge this and refuse to spend money at places that support Nazis.
I have this feeling you know all of this, but you are just being a schmuck with your comment :)
Totally sick of Americans going on about freedom of speech and land of the free, when it’s one of the most discriminating countries in the developed world.
Workers have almost no rights, they hate unions and the concept of universal healthcare. Where they allow people to carry guns in supermarkets, but outlaw someone in drag.
The highest prison population, amongst the lowest literacy rates in the west.
I could go on ..
The companies take the blame for their decisions. It’s all part of the game. Some refuse to do a wedding cake for a gay couple on religious grounds, others allow this
moron to speak. You bring your money elsewhere. That is the consequence, no lawyers ot human rights defenders need to be involved
Free speech doesn’t include freedom from consequences for Mariott from the public and also includes allowing responses like this. So what’s your point?
Free speech doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want. It means the government can’t lock you up for saying something, subject to certain guidelines (ie yelling “FIRE” in a crowded theater is punishable). However, private entities can do as they like - for example I’m well within my rights to deny you entry to my restaurant for being an insufferable prick.
Fun fact: The origin of “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theatre” was a WWI era court case where anti war activists were put in prison for fighting against US involvement in the war
Hate speech is legally prohibited in Finland, unlike in the US.
Freedom of speech restricts the right of the government to prohibit undesirable speech. Freedom of speech and expression allow individuals and pricate companies to decide which messages they want to host and which they don’t want to host.
I like how people point out what happens in other countries as an exception and not the rule. This didn't happen in Finland!!! Who cares what laws they have.