The repercussions continue from the union lockout at the Radisson Paraiso Hotel in Mexico City on March 1.
Although some guests did receive partial reimbursement from the hotel to cover their costs for prescription drug replacement, they have not been compensated for expenses such as clothing purchased during the lockout, according to Victor Joubran, owner of Quality Travel Services in McLean, Va.
He also said that no formal letter of apology has been received from Radisson corporate, the hotel or from tourism officials.
Joubran was in Mexico City at the time for a family wedding. He and members of the wedding party were staying at the Radisson when union workers cleared the hotel of guests, sealed its doors and did not permit the 150 guests to retrieve essential possessions, including medications and passports, for two days.
Guests were transferred to the nearby Royal Pedregal Hotel, a sister property to the Radisson that is independently owned and operated under a license agreement with Radisson. Both hotels have the same owner.
Medical complications arose for a number of guests who were on daily prescription drugs for blood pressure and other disorders. They did not get replacement meds until more than a day after the lockout began. Also, they did not get support or assistance from U.S. embassy personnel or hotel management, according to Joubran.
Guests were permitted to retrieve their belongings at the Radisson on March 3. The hotel reopened for business the following day, but most of the guests had departed for home by then. Some of those who stayed had to reschedule flights.
"Although Mexico, like other democratic countries, protects the freedom to unionize and the right to strike, incidents of this type are extremely rare in Mexico," said Eduard Chaillo, North American director for the Mexico Tourist Board. "Unions typically advise businesses when they plan to strike. Often, deals are made that prevent strikes from occurring in the first place."
Chaillo said that local tourism authorities "were in frequent contact with the U.S. embassy to keep officials abreast of developments."
