The Workplace Relations Commission found that Oriel House Hotel Limited discriminated against Theresa O'Sullivan on the Traveller community ground and directed it to pay her €3,000. In a decision dated 25 October 2023, it also ordered the hotel to adopt an Equal Status policy and train its staff and management.
O'Sullivan's complaint concerned the cancellation of accommodation booked for her and her family. The hotel said it had overbooked and blamed an error by a reservationist. The adjudicator found the hotel's accounts inconsistent and unsupported by the booking records, which showed only one overbooking that month, on the night the family had booked.
The adjudicator found the hotel had implied knowledge that the family were Travellers and that their membership of the community led to the refusal of accommodation. Under the Equal Status Acts, discrimination occurs when someone is treated less favourably because of a protected ground. The hotel had to pay compensation for the effects of the discrimination and introduce the policy and training measures.