The Workplace Relations Commission found that a hotel indirectly discriminated against a Traveller by refusing her stay because she did not have a credit card. It awarded her €500 and ordered the hotel to revise its policy to allow other reasonable forms of security.
The decision, dated 18 July 2023, concerned a booking the complainant made for herself and her husband. She said she offered a debit card and felt embarrassed when refused entry. The hotel said its credit card rule applied to guests generally and protected it against damage and unpaid charges.
The adjudicator found that the policy disadvantaged members of the Traveller Community, who were less likely to have access to credit. Although the hotel had a legitimate need to protect its property, it had not shown that a credit card was the only suitable security method or that it had reasonably considered alternatives such as cash or a pre-authorised debit card.
A separate complaint on the race ground was withdrawn at the hearing.