A disturbing incident unfolded at the Novotel Porte de Versailles hotel in Paris, where an Israeli couple and their young child were allegedly refused their reservation and forcibly removed in the middle of the night. According to a report by the French newspaper La Parisien on Monday, Mahmoud Omri and his family arrived at the hotel with a confirmed reservation for a three-night stay costing 935 Euros, as reported by Ynet.
However, upon arrival, they were met with hostility from the receptionist, who had reportedly changed his demeanor upon seeing their Israeli passports. "He suddenly said we would have to pay 1,219 Euros for the room and that our reservation was invalid," Mahmoud Omri told La Parisien. Despite showing proof of their reservation made through Booking.com, the receptionist insisted the hotel was fully booked and made derogatory remarks towards them.
"When I showed him the reservation, he became offensive and rude, saying 'Israelis think they are kings of the world and won't get a room in this hotel,'" Mahmoud Omri recounted. Efforts to seek assistance from hotel security were reportedly fruitless, with the guard siding with the receptionist. Ultimately, the family was ejected from the premises along with their child and forced to find alternative accommodation at the airport.
The incident sparked outrage, prompting the family to file a complaint with the police on Friday. In response to the media, Accor, the hotel's parent company, initiated an internal investigation and offered compensation to the affected family. Accor claimed the hotel was fully booked and attributed the confrontation to a dispute over a requested discount for a suite.
Israel's Ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, condemned the incident and called for a thorough police investigation. "I expect the hotel to fully cooperate, and I have confidence in the French authorities to ensure such discriminatory acts are not repeated," Ambassador Zarka stated.
The case has drawn attention to issues of discrimination in hospitality services and raised concerns about the treatment of guests based on nationality or ethnicity in France. It is especially relevant in light of the upcoming Olympic Games which will take place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024, when a slew of visitors from all over the world will descend on the city for to watch the games.