The Justice Department announced that it has reached an agreement with AWH Orlando Property LLC, the owner of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld, to resolve allegations of discrimination against people of Arab descent. The hotel is accused of violating Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by canceling a conference organized by the Arab America Foundation, a non-profit educational and cultural group, due to the national origin of its members.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, claims that the DoubleTree canceled the event just a week before it was set to take place in November 2023. While the hotel cited security concerns as the reason for the cancellation, the Justice Department alleges that no security threats had been made and that the hotel’s decision was based solely on the national origin of the conference’s attendees.
According to the lawsuit, the cancellation reportedly stemmed from the national origin of the attendees, most of whom were of Arab heritage. This decision came after a series of emails between DoubleTree and Hilton, during which the hotel was advised against hosting the event, leading to the abandonment of any plans to reschedule. This move has been labeled as discriminatory, infringing upon the rights of individuals of Arab descent as outlined in Title II of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination based on national origin in public accommodations.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of upholding equal access to public accommodations. “No one may be denied the right to use hotel facilities because of their national origin,” she said.
As part of the settlement, which still requires court approval, the DoubleTree has agreed to several corrective measures, including issuing a public statement to the Arab America Foundation clarifying that the hotel welcomes guests of all backgrounds. Additionally, the hotel will hire a compliance officer to oversee its adherence to anti-discrimination policies for the next two years, implement training for staff on their obligations under Title II, and develop a system for handling discrimination complaints from guests.
The hotel will also conduct outreach to Arab and Arab American groups to demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity. Under the terms of the agreement, the hotel must regularly report to the Justice Department to show compliance with the settlement.
U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida expressed the department’s dedication to protecting civil rights: “We will continue to hold places of public accommodation accountable to ensure that the civil rights of all people are protected.”
The settlement resolves the case without monetary damages but aims to ensure that future guests will have equal access to the hotel’s services and accommodations, regardless of their race, color, religion, or national origin.
