The WRC found that a hotel discriminated against five members of a family on the Traveller community ground after they were turned away despite an online booking. It ordered the hotel to pay €1,000 to each complainant. The decision was dated 2 May 2016.
The family said they arrived on 15 October 2015 with a confirmed reservation for two rooms, but reception staff said there was no booking and did not check for rooms. The hotel said the employee on duty was unfamiliar with its separate online booking system. Its manager confirmed rooms were available, but none were offered. The WRC found the family was refused accommodation because of their Traveller community membership. The parents said they slept in their car and their children stayed with relatives that night.
The family’s race claims were withdrawn. A separate request by their representative, Ms F, to add her own claim was denied because it was outside the time limit; the merits were not decided.