Hyatt Eats At Denny's; Flack Gets Gas
From the AP:
A conference sponsored by a group that argues whites are superior to blacks is being held this weekend at the Dulles Hyatt, prompting criticism of the hotel chain for hosting the event.
The American Renaissance conference is being held at the hotel in Herndon. It's sponsored by the New Century Foundation, based in Oakton. Its leader, Jared Taylor [pictured], says the white race is losing its identity in America due to multiculturalism and immigration...
A group of student activists at George Mason University has tried unsuccessfully to get the Hyatt to shut its doors to the conference, which it has hosted in previous years...
Hyatt spokeswoman Lori Armon said the opinions of those at American Renaissance don't necessarily reflect those of Hyatt Dulles or its parent company. But she says the company does not "discriminate against guests or organizations with which our guests are affiliated."
We're not sure that Hyatt did anything wrong here; as long as a group is nonviolent, it's pretty tricky to begin excluding organizations on the basis of their views, however repugnant.
But it's a different story when protesters make it a PR issue.
We predict American Renaissance will have its event somewhere else next year -- as long as the George Mason students keep up the pressure. And that's fine; it's what peaceful protest is all about.
(Oh, and as for the Denny's reference -- we know it's not analogous, but at least it's gratuitious.)
Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, Marketing
posted by Scott Baradell at
3:05 PM
7 Comments:
I am very proud of the Mason students.
By
Andrea Weckerle, at 2/26/2006
Voices against immigration and for the traditional American majority are few & far between. Every major corporation from Exxon to Philip Morris has a well-funded "diversity" department and many quietly fund open-borders candidates for the sake of the cheap labor. Do we really need to oppress one of the few small groups like American Renaissance that present the other side? I think not.
By
Anonymous, at 2/26/2006
Of course, the Dulles Hyatt is within its rights to accept business from whomever it wishes. But if I were teh hotel, I'm not sure I'd want to take a chance on the PR fallout.
To me, the fact that the Hyatt has hosted this confernce previously casts a pall on the hotel's business ethics and integrity.
Your header is very creative.
By
Deb S., at 2/26/2006
SB: You're right on all points.
By
Deb S., at 2/26/2006
Andrea: I agree; it's the American way. It's kind of the reverse of the boycott that led Ford to pull ads from gay pubs. The reaction to that decision forced Ford to change again. This is the way that people can have an impact on the behavior of corporations -- one issue at a time.
Anonymous: If Hyatt determines that American Renaissance promotes hate speech, it's perfectly within its rights to say, "We choose not to host meetings that fall into certain categories." As for the substance of the group's opinions, our society should have learned by now that such messages do harm -- never good.
DCS: I just think the Hyatt got caught by surprise. I've never worked in the hotel business, but I have to assume that chains typically do not do research on the beliefs and purposes of the groups it books. That said, now that people are putting pressure on Hyatt, it should take a hard look at this. I have a feeling it will.
By
SB, at 2/26/2006
The Pritzkers (owners of the Hyatt Hotels) must be so proud. I'm sure as minorities, they'd be welcomed with open arms to the conference.
As for Denny's, leave the poor chain alone. I've had reverse racism there at the Emeryville location, so it goes all ways.
By
Jeremy, at 2/27/2006
Hmmm...bad eggs are bad eggs, I guess ;)
By
SB, at 2/27/2006
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