Vancouver hotel apologizes following allegation of anti-Indigenous racism over hotel men’s room incident – CBC

Mar 16, 2023

General manager apologized in a letter, cited plans for training staff to work with Indigenous organizations

The Hyatt Regency Vancouver has apologized after the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) said one of its members was subjected to anti-Indigenous racism at the hotel last month.

At a press conference last week, BCAAFC Executive Director Leslie Varley said the man, a cultural adviser in his early 40s, suffered humiliation and trauma when a Hyatt employee denied him entry to the restroom four times on the night of Feb. 24.

“The cultural adviser recounts how the hotel employee mocked him and smirked at him, noticing his wet clothing,” said Varley.

In a statement last week, Hyatt general manager Patrick Gosselin said the employee was locking up the second-floor restroom after 11 p.m. when the man approached. Gosselin said the employee initially asked the man to use the lobby restroom instead.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-hyatt-hotel-apologizes-following-allegation-anti-indigenous-racism-mens-room-incident-1.6781645