United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Travel firms boycott Dorchester over links to Brunei
Virgin boss Richard Branson has joined celebrities including Stephen Fry and US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres in boycotting the luxury Dorchester Hotel chain.
Online travel agents cruise.co.uk also announced today that it is joining the boycott over the owner’s ties to Brunei, which has adopted a strict from of Sharia law that calls for stoning to death for adultery or homosexual acts.
It said it would refuse to book clients into any of hotels in the Dorchester Collection. "Any guests asking to book one of these hotels will be politely told why we are unable to fulfil their request and offered a suitable alternative," said managing director Seamus Conlon.
Branson tweeted "No @Virgin employee, nor our family, will stay at Dorchester Hotels until the Sultan abides by basic human rights".
The Dorchester Collection, which includes the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Bel Air Hotel, The Dorchester and several other luxury-level properties around the word, is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, a branch of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei.
The oil rich state last week adopted a form of Sharia law that calls for the severing of limbs for theft, as well as stoning to death for adultery and homosexuality. Enforcement would be limited to within the borders of Brunei.
Actor, author and TV presenter Stephen Fry tweeted that he had cancelled his reservation at Coworth Park Hotel after finding out "in the nick of time" that it was part of the Dorchester collection.
However, the Dorchester Collection’s chief executive Christopher Cowdray rejected the boycotts and dismissed the protests against the company as misguided.
"American companies across the board are funded by foreign investment, including sovereign wealth funds," he said in a statement.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Gatwick braces for strike
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’