British family refused service from "People of colour" or peeps with accent.

[Danno 1,228]

To make the story even more entertaining... the "Coloured folk" who did not have to wait on them ... are now hoping to collect damages to the tune of $75,000..... because of the work they -did not do.

British family 'demanded white staff at Florida hotel'

Alleged request not to be served by 'people of colour' emerges in writ by waiter against Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida

Ritz-Carlton’s Naples hotel, where staff were allegedly prevented from serving the family. Photograph: David Alexander/Getty Images

A British family has been banned from staying at a chain of luxury hotels after allegedly requesting not to be served by "people of colour" at a Florida resort.

The demand, allegedly lodged by the family on arrival, has emerged in a claim by a Haitian-born waiter against the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, Florida. The family, named by the hotel as the Morgans, are said to have checked in on 29 February.

According to the writ, the hotel – at the direction of its managing director, Edward Staros – recorded on its computers the "preference" that the family not be served by "people of colour" or staff with "foreign accents". The note reportedly added: "This couple is very very prejudice".

The claimant, Wadner Tranchant, 40, a naturalised US citizen who has worked at the Ritz-Carlton for 15 years, said that on 12 March the hotel "instructed the serving staff regarding the stated prejudice of the Morgan family" when they reserved a table in the restaurant. Tranchant's attorney, Michael McDonnell, told the Guardian: "As a lawyer you are required to conduct an investigation before taking a case, and we have done that. There are a number of witnesses to support his story."

Tranchant is still employed at the Ritz-Carlton despite his lawsuit against the hotel chain, McDonnell said.

The lawsuit seeks more than $75,000 (£49,000) in compensation for Tranchant, who was "humiliated, embarrassed, frightened, intimidated, subject to undeserved shame and suffered severe emotional distress". No date has been set for a hearing. The hotel has 20 days from when the lawsuit was filed on Tuesday to submit a formal response.

The Ritz-Carlton's website promises "world class restaurants and impeccable service" at its Naples property, a 450-room waterfront hotel with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico, two heated swimming pools and two golf courses designed by the former world No 1 Greg Norman where rates start at $439.

Tranchant's claim states that staff in the restaurant were advised "through its computer notification system and word of mouth" of the family's "stated prejudice", and that as Tranchant began to serve them "he was prevented by his supervisors from doing so because they did not want to be waited on by a black person".

The lawsuit adds: "Other employees also encountered similar treatment on multiple occasions", with "such conduct so severe or pervasive that a reasonable person in [Tranchant's] position would find the work environment to be hostile or abusive".

The Ritz-Carlton group declined to say whether any staff had been disciplined, but confirmed the family had been contacted and "banned from staying at any Ritz-Carlton hotel". Vivian Deuschl, a company spokeswoman in Washington, said the hotel "does not tolerate or condone discrimination of any kind by its employees or visiting guests."

Bruce Seigel, the hotel's director of marketing, added: "The hotel has very strict policies in place to prohibit discrimination and harassment and we take very seriously any allegation of discrimination or harassment."

The case provoked a flurry of comments on US websites. "The hotel should be fined heavily … and the money given to a charity that helps fight racism," was one view.

"Those beastly boors from Britain should have been given the boot the moment they made their bigoted request," noted another blogger.

One New Yorker posted: "I know this may sound wrong, but I have to side with the hotel on this one. They're simply doing what they're supposed to and honor the old adage about the customer always being right."

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

[scandal 951]

The family, named by the hotel as the Morgans, are said to have checked in on 29 February.

...

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010

29 Feb? Of which year? We haven't had a leap-year since 2008.

[Danno 1,228]

lets not let small details get in the way of a good story.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/23/florida-hotel-alleged-racist-demand

Edited April 25, 2010 by Danno

[Radkova 11]

this is ridiculous. those damn british needs to go back to their country

[nickm 1]

this is ridiculous. those damn british needs to go back to their country

Thats a bit harsh were not all like that.. There are just as many racist Americans as there are british ones.. Its sad that people are like this but lets not judge everyone by a minorities actions.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

"Those beastly boors from Britain should have been given the boot the moment they made their bigoted request," noted another blogger.

QFT.

[Fandango 1,440]

I hope the guy suing them wins. There's no place for racism in the workplace.

I was once asked by people to show them a nice house that's 'not in a black neighborhood' I quickly ended the meeting and never spoke to them again. The sale could have yielded me a LOT of money, but each person has to draw their own line in the sand as to what is acceptable and what is not.

[Danno 1,228]

I hope the guy suing them wins. There's no place for racism in the workplace.

I was once asked by people to show them a nice house that's 'not in a black neighborhood' I quickly ended the meeting and never spoke to them again. The sale could have yielded me a LOT of money, but each person has to draw their own line in the sand as to what is acceptable and what is not.

While we agree about racism in the work place, I hardly think these maids deserve 75 grand for not changing their bath towels..... can anyone say with a straight face their "damages" amounted to 75 grand?

Sunlight is the best way to disinfect these type of situations and the bad PR they have gotten has more than done that.

AS for people not wanting to buy a home in a "black neighborhood", lets get-real. Nearly no one buys a home in a black neighborhood if they can afford otherwise, (which of course is different than a neighborhood "with blacks").

Anyone with the smallest interest in realestate has noted the evolution of neighborhoods, it's not a pretty sight.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

I was once asked by people to show them a nice house that's 'not in a black neighborhood' I quickly ended the meeting and never spoke to them again. The sale could have yielded me a LOT of money, but each person has to draw their own line in the sand as to what is acceptable and what is not.

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking that.

But all the people would have to do, to determine the race of a particular neighbourhood, was to sit outside a school when it lets out for the day.

[Ali G. 37]

It comes down to a thing called work ethos.

I know that if I have Hispanic staff, my room will be spotless. Also why I leave them a tip whenever I leave.

[Danno 1,228]

It comes down to a thing called work ethos.

I know that if I have Hispanic staff, my room will be spotless. Also why I leave them a tip whenever I leave.

Yeah me too, but don't-cha hate it when you don't have any change..... and have to leave a whole dollar?

[Fandango 1,440]

While we agree about racism in the work place, I hardly think these maids deserve 75 grand for not changing their bath towels..... can anyone say with a straight face their "damages" amounted to 75 grand?

Sunlight is the best way to disinfect these type of situations and the bad PR they have gotten has more than done that.

AS for people not wanting to buy a home in a "black neighborhood", lets get-real. Nearly no one buys a home in a black neighborhood if they can afford otherwise, (which of course is different than a neighborhood "with blacks").

Anyone with the smallest interest in realestate has noted the evolution of neighborhoods, it's not a pretty sight.

The hotel is certainly lucky it's not 75 million.

And as far as my little story...I'm sorry...but I am NOT gonna be part in showing where the 'non black' neighborhoods are. And in 2010, for someone to say 'black neighborhood' in professional company is just horrible imo.

[Pooky 3,844]

Sounds like my late father, before 1996.

Then, on his first trip to the US, we had a black guy wait our table in Reno. From that point on, his opinion did a 180°. Most Brit old-timers just need exposure to something different (to them), to discover that the world is somewhat different to their preconceived notions.

Mind you, next time we ate there, I could swear our server (same one) was wearing earplugs.

[Ali G. 37]

The hotel is certainly lucky it's not 75 million.

And as far as my little story...I'm sorry...but I am NOT gonna be part in showing where the 'non black' neighborhoods are. And in 2010, for someone to say 'black neighborhood' in professional company is just horrible imo.

Would you have accepted they say not in a low-class ghetto?

[Peikko 1,575]

Why did the hotel chain manager not simply tell them that their request was against hotel policy and would not be entertained and that they accept that all hotel workers are employed on an equal basis and if they didn't like that then they could seek alternative accommodation? That's the part I don't understand...

Edited April 25, 2010 by Madame Cleo