Posted on 06/26/2014 9:01:26 AM PDT by Marie
It is a shameful act of discrimination for a business to turn away someone who returned home after being at war with battle scars that cannot be visibly seen. But, that’s precisely what happened to one veteran while vacationing in Florida. Not only is it an act of discrimination, but also what this hotel, and many others, did to this veteran is against the law. (Watch Video at the link)
Former Army Sgt. Robert Price simply wanted to find a place to sleep while he was on vacation in Daytona Beach, FL. He was not alone. He had with him his trusty companion and service dog, Walker. After serving in the Middle East and facing bomb attacks for years, Price developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Walker’s job is to assist him when in need. He is an official service dog with the proper identifying vest and paperwork. But, that didn’t matter to the desk clerk, Bina Patel, at the Budget Inn. She told Price that his dog was not allowed, and said she would call the police on him for having a dog on the premises when he wouldn’t leave.
As you can see in that video, the clerk was quite rude and cold with how she treated this veteran. But, it was even worse than what this video shows. The clerk did call the police on Price, accusing him of being an American criminal for having a dog on the property. After police arrived, Price explained the situation to them. They attempted to educate Patel on the law and the fact that she cannot turn him away. She still refused to rent Sgt. Price a room.
Going above and beyond the call of duty, one of the police officers escorted Sgt. Price to numerous hotels in an attempt to help him get a room. Curiously, every single one said they were completely booked until they got to LaQuinta Inn, which welcomed Sgt. Price and his dog Walker with open arms.
WFTV has a full interview with Sgt. Price during which he recounts what happened and says, surprisingly, this is not the first time he has had the experience of being turned away because of his service dog, Walker. However, it is the first time he was called a criminal and had the police called simply because of the presence of his service dog Walker. Patel is facing a possible misdemeanor charge, which could include a fine and jail time, for breaking the Florida law by refusing service and turning away a disabled individual and their service dog.
(watch full interview at the link)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Undercover_Boss_(U.S._TV_series)_episodes
There’s the link, sorry.
Budget Inn is not a franchise. You could open a hotel tomorrow and call it Budget Inn. You could not open one and just call it Comfort Inn or Days Inn unless you purchased a franchise, but since Budget Inn is NOT a franchise, anyone can use that name.
There’s probably a Budget Inn in almost every community just because a name like Budget pulls in a lot of travelers. And because there are so many, people probably do think they’re part of a chain like Days Inn.
Thanks for telling me. I forgot to add the link. :-)
Good man!
thanks!
Thank you! I get a little rabid about hotels, loved my job because I was able to help hotel owners improve.
Foreigners, Muslims, people from India, Mideast, etc., have purchased most of the hotel franchises in the Midwest and all over the US.
In fact, they have bought up most of the 711 greedy mart franchises along with burger king, McDonald’s, and the rest of the fast slop joints...
While they bought up America and divided the once united, most Americans were sleeping or drunk....
And Bhavin is the equivalent of Bob. America now has about the same number of Bhavin Patels as Bob Smiths.
However, I have to take the word of the dog owner - not permitted to ask for proof.
The clerk, Bina Patel of Budget Inn should be forced to receive all medical care for the next two years from the VA... That's real punishment....
May I ask where you stay while traveling since you know the ins and outs of the business?
Most likely, they are Gujaratis (Indians). "Patel" is a prevalent name in Gujarat...
The Patel family, or just people named Patel own half the motels in the USA, it seems like.
Around here too, they are buying up all of the Convenience stores too.
I don’t stay with any one chain because they all have good and bad. I take my favorite chains, see what they have in the area I want to go, narrow it down by price I’m willing to pay and then check recent reviews on Trip Advisor. Then I decide.
My usual choices are:
Best Western
Wingate Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Hampton Inn and/or their family of hotels
Doubletree
Hilton Inn and/or their family of hotels
An FYI that a lot of people don’t realize, you can OFTEN get a lower rate by calling the hotel direct, not the 800 # or the website. I say often because sometimes the hotel just won’t budge on rate, but you can find a room at that hotel cheaper online. I usually look online, call the 800 # and then call the hotel.
There are 3 in Daytona Beach so how do you know which it was?
We don’t know so far, unless someone can read the business card flashed in the video.
I learned the hard way to not be in front of one of them when the doors open.
“I learned the hard way to not be in front of one of them when the doors open.”
Yeah, particularly if you are trying to get on or off a Tokyo subway, or and Indian train. The other thing you want to make sure you never do is get between a politician and a microphone. And that goes double if its Schmucky Chucky Schumer! It’s probably why they have ambulances at political rallies.
I don’t know which establishments wouldn’t cater to him. He hasn’t divulged them. He did tell that his apartment complex gave him grief until he got a lawyer involved, but that’s all I know for now. He’s going to let me know soon.
If only they could all be like the Sagebrush Inn in Taos. One of our favorites in the southwest.
ROTFLOL
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