We all know that Minnesota is experiencing some of the most turbulent times in recent memory. Among the stories that emerged from recent events, one involved the Hampton Inn in Lakeville, Minnesota. For the unaware, the staff at this hotel allegedly refused entry to DHS and ICE members. While many praised this, Hilton, which had the Hampton Inn in its system, was not happy with the controversy and decided to remove the Inn from the brand, saying that Hilton hotels are “a welcoming place for all.”
For those unfamiliar, the Hampton Inn in Lakeville was accused of refusing entry to ICE and DHS officials. There was a video online showing a person trying to request a room while posing as a DHS member. Here, you can see the hotel staff member telling the person filming that they can’t stay, as they are not serving immigration officers, ICE, or DHS agents.
After learning this, the Hilton brand put out a statement, which is the one we’ve attached above, saying that, “A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values. As such, we’re taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems.”
As shown, Hilton removed the hotel from its website and stopped accepting new bookings not long after the situation emerged. Additionally, a resident from Lakeville managed to get a picture from the Hampton Inn and capture the moment when the Hilton sign was being removed.
At the moment, it seems that those in charge of the Lakeville establishment haven’t said anything to the press, so all we know is what Hilton mentioned in its statement regarding the recent events.
In any case, people were not too happy to see Hilton dropping this hotel, and they are now bashing the brand on several social media accounts.
“Cowards. You folded like a cheap suit,” said some users on X.
“So you’re okay with ICE then. Noted,” commented another person.
From a business and PR standpoint, this might have been a good move. However, it doesn’t mean it is the best, as a lot of people are now angry, claiming they will take their business elsewhere. One user on X even said, “I guess I’m now a Marriott guy.“
In any case, we hope those in charge of the Lakeville hotel issue a statement soon, as their perspective would help clarify the situation.
