When you check into a hotel, you expect to be treated with the same respect as any customer. According to Felicia Gonzales, who stayed at a Portland, Oregon Marriott, she was treated different because she was black. She has filed a lawsuit against Marriott, claiming discrimination because she was required to sign a “No Party Policy” before checking into her Residence Inn hotel room. She claims that she was told by the front desk clerk that all guests were required to sign the policy. However, Ms. Gonzales witnessed white guests who were not asked to sign the policy.
The policy that Marriott required Ms. Gonzales to sign states that it was established to inform all guests of noise limits and “not to insinuate any distrust in the ‘average’ guest” and states that guests are responsible for any missing items or damage caused to the hotel.
The lawsuit states that, “Having to sign a ‘NO PARTY’ Policy form did not feel right to Ms. Gonzales, so she went back to the front desk.” “Ms. Gonzales observed as multiple Caucasian guests checked in. None of them were asked to sign a ‘NO PARTY’ Policy.”
Gonzales’ lawsuit seeks $300,000 for embarrassment, frustration, humiliation and “feelings of racial stigmatization.”
