WASHINGTON -- Adam's Mark Hotels and Resorts said it was
"disappointed" by the Justice Department's lawsuit alleging the
luxury hotel chain discriminates against its minority guests and
predicted it will be "completely exonerated."
"We feel the allegations, when brought to light, will not be
substantiated," said a spokesman for thechain, "and our track
record at the Adam's Mark certainly proves itself."
The DOJ filed the lawsuit against the hotel chain and its
parent, HBE Corp., alleging they engaged in a pattern of
discrimination against minorities.
The DOJ, which filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Orlando,
said its investigation into the chain found that "Adam's Mark
implemented policies that limited the number of minority clientele
in the hotel's restaurants, bars, lounges or clubs."
Furthermore, the DOJ contends the "chain charged minorities
higher room rates and different prices for goods and services than
those charged to white guests" and imposed "stricter security,
reservation and identification requirements."
The DOJ said such practices violate Title II of the 1964 Civil
Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,
color, religion or national origin in places of public
accommodation.
"This kind of behavior is simply unacceptable," said Attorney
General Janet Reno. "It is hard to believe that 35 years after the
Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress, this type of
discrimination still exists."
The DOJ action stems from a class-action suit filed with
assistance from the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People and other civil rights groups last May in Orlando on
behalf of several who stayed at the Daytona Beach Adam's Mark Hotel
last April.
The plaintiffs had stayed at the hotel to attend a weekend event
called the annual Black College Reunion.
In that lawsuit, the plaintiffs contended the hotel required
them to wear yellow wristbands, prepay for their weekend stay and
to make a $100 damage deposit.
They also claimed black guests were barred from self-parking on
hotel property or using valet parking, and received substandard
service.
But the hotel defended its policies as standard operating
procedure for guests attending special events.
The hotel said 80% of its guests at the time were reunion
attendees and the Adam's Mark was a big promoter of the event.
The hotel said the "practice of requiring hotel guests to wear
wristbands during large ... events is not peculiar to the Black
College Reunion," and had been used for other large events to
"minimize visitation by nonpaying guests."
"While we're disappointed to be part of a Justice Department
lawsuit, we believe we will be completely exonerated from this
complaint," said the Adam's Mark spokesman.
Bill Lann Lee, the DOJ's acting assistant attorney general for
civil rights, said, "We hope our lawsuit will keep the doors of all
Adam's Mark hotels open to all persons, regardless of their race or
color."
- Grant Flowers contributed to this report.