Hotels, hostels and B&Bs (‘bed and breakfast’ accommodation) are all facilities that are offered to the public. It is, in general, unlawful for anyone providing such accommodation to discriminate against you on grounds of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. Discrimination on grounds of age is not currently unlawful in service provision.
This includes the following areas:
• being offered or being refused such accommodation
• the quality of the accommodation
• the manner or terms on which the accommodation is offered.
Example
The owner of a B&B establishment refuses to allow a same-sex couple to stay there when they ask for a room.
This is direct sexual orientation discrimination. The owner is liable to legal action.
Example
A Sikh man of Indian origin books a room in a B&B establishment. When he arrives, the receptionist tells him that the room is no longer available. She refers him to a hotel nearby. When challenged, the receptionist tells the man that the owner does not like Asian people staying there because they could be terrorists.
This is direct racial discrimination against the man. The owner of the B&B has also issued his staff with an unlawful instruction to discriminate, and is liable to legal action. It is also unlawful discrimination on religious grounds, and the owner is also liable to legal action for this reason.
Your right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of your sex when using hotel, hostel or similar accommodation does not apply to communal accommodation.