Desperate Homeless Men Turned Away from Hotel in Freezing Temperatures
Two homeless men, despite having paid for their rooms at a Manchester Holiday Inn, were callously turned away by the hotel staff in sub-zero temperatures. The incident has left charity workers and advocates stunned, highlighting the blatant disregard for human dignity that some establishments exhibit.
The story began when Two Brews, a local homelessness charity, booked two rooms at the hotel as part of an effort to provide shelter to those in need. Temperatures had plummeted to -6C overnight on Monday, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing an amber cold weather alert due to the heightened risk of mortality.
Despite this harsh environment and the charity's efforts to provide vital support, the men were met with hostility at the hotel reception. A staff member allegedly refused to check them in, citing a company policy that explicitly excludes individuals from "the street" from accommodation. The worker claimed it was not a personal issue but rather a matter of policy.
Charity worker Amanda Thompson described the scene, saying she had accompanied the men to the reception after their booking was confirmed online with donations and her own money. However, when they arrived, the staff turned them away without explanation or justification. Thompson expressed outrage at this treatment, describing it as "complete discrimination by appearance" and "inhumane."
The hotel later apologized for its actions, stating that it would enhance staff training to prevent similar incidents in the future. In contrast, another nearby Travelodge proved welcoming, accommodating six or seven homeless individuals, including four dogs, on the same night.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the entrenched attitudes and biases that exist within some establishments towards vulnerable populations. As IHG claims to promote access for all, it remains to be seen whether meaningful action will be taken to address these issues.
Two homeless men, despite having paid for their rooms at a Manchester Holiday Inn, were callously turned away by the hotel staff in sub-zero temperatures. The incident has left charity workers and advocates stunned, highlighting the blatant disregard for human dignity that some establishments exhibit.
The story began when Two Brews, a local homelessness charity, booked two rooms at the hotel as part of an effort to provide shelter to those in need. Temperatures had plummeted to -6C overnight on Monday, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing an amber cold weather alert due to the heightened risk of mortality.
Despite this harsh environment and the charity's efforts to provide vital support, the men were met with hostility at the hotel reception. A staff member allegedly refused to check them in, citing a company policy that explicitly excludes individuals from "the street" from accommodation. The worker claimed it was not a personal issue but rather a matter of policy.
Charity worker Amanda Thompson described the scene, saying she had accompanied the men to the reception after their booking was confirmed online with donations and her own money. However, when they arrived, the staff turned them away without explanation or justification. Thompson expressed outrage at this treatment, describing it as "complete discrimination by appearance" and "inhumane."
The hotel later apologized for its actions, stating that it would enhance staff training to prevent similar incidents in the future. In contrast, another nearby Travelodge proved welcoming, accommodating six or seven homeless individuals, including four dogs, on the same night.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the entrenched attitudes and biases that exist within some establishments towards vulnerable populations. As IHG claims to promote access for all, it remains to be seen whether meaningful action will be taken to address these issues.
this is just insane! who pays attention to policy over people's lives? hotels have a responsibility to provide shelter in emergency situations like freezing temperatures 
the fact that staff would turn away paying guests shows a complete lack of empathy and understanding of the struggles homeless people face 
it's heartbreaking to think that 2 guys had to brave sub-zero temps just because hotel staff didn't want to help them 
And I'm literally shaking my head... what's wrong with humans?! I mean, come on, you paid for the room and everything! How can they just turn you away like that? It's not like they were asking to stay there or something. The charity guys were trying to help too, and what did they get in return? A slap in the face. And the hotel's excuse about policy is just ridiculous - if I went out and got a job so I could pay for my accommodation, would they still turn me away? 
It's not right. These places need to start treating people with some basic human decency.
. I mean, what's wrong with having a little compassion? They paid for their rooms just like anyone else, and it's not like they're asking for much. Just a warm place to stay on a cold night 
. And now IHG is all like "oh no, we'll fix our training" 
... yeah, good luck with that 
. It's time for some real change, you know? We gotta treat everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their situation 
. Can't believe another hotel was so welcoming nearby though, Travelodge is a total legend 
!
hotel should've got some training on compassion & empathy like what travelodge did btw hotels need to do more than just apologize gotta put money where their mouth is 
I mean... how can you just turn away two guys who paid for their rooms? 
Can you even imagine being stuck in freezing temps with no where to go? 
Hotels are supposed to be places of refuge, not places of fear. I'm so glad Travelodge stepped up and gave those folks a safe place to stay. We need more hotels like that! 
it's not like they were gonna get all fancy and use the free amenities or anything 
. When are we gonna have some real change? 
. The hotel policy is rediculous 
, it should be an option for anyone in need