Starwood - LGBT Guests Exist Too!
May 25, 2014, 9:17 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: USA
Programs: SPG Platinum (100)
Posts: 517
It's really sad that society has come to the point where political correctness has gone into such overdrive that greetings are now supposed to be neutral because of some fear of offence when no offence was even intended.
Starwood associates greeting customers warmly, with a smile and a "hello Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT looking to make a political statement. They're just saying "hello".
Starwood associates writing out welcome cards to warmly greet "Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT trying to denigrate gay marriage or uphold traditional marriages. They just thought they were being nice by arranging a personal greeting and maybe even an amenity.
Perhaps the solution to all this silliness is what Oberlin College in Ohio has now proposed which is that trigger warnings be added to any of their student's reading material.
So maybe, in the hospitality industry's case, every reservation should come with the following trigger warning or disclaimer (it has been adapted from Oberlin's own warnings to make it more relevant to hotel guests):
"We are aware of racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism and other issues of privilege and oppression. We realize that all forms of violence and discrimination, whether intended or not, are traumatic, and that our guests have lives before and outside your property, experiences we may not fully expect or understand. We therefore apologize sincerely and profusely in advance for any and all offence that can and/or will be caused by any or all of our actions or those of our associates or their associates, whether they are intentional or unintentional, real or perceived. We wish you a pleasant stay at our property but please do not take any offence if for some reason you would have preferred an unpleasant stay."
Starwood associates greeting customers warmly, with a smile and a "hello Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT looking to make a political statement. They're just saying "hello".
Starwood associates writing out welcome cards to warmly greet "Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT trying to denigrate gay marriage or uphold traditional marriages. They just thought they were being nice by arranging a personal greeting and maybe even an amenity.
Perhaps the solution to all this silliness is what Oberlin College in Ohio has now proposed which is that trigger warnings be added to any of their student's reading material.
So maybe, in the hospitality industry's case, every reservation should come with the following trigger warning or disclaimer (it has been adapted from Oberlin's own warnings to make it more relevant to hotel guests):
"We are aware of racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, ableism and other issues of privilege and oppression. We realize that all forms of violence and discrimination, whether intended or not, are traumatic, and that our guests have lives before and outside your property, experiences we may not fully expect or understand. We therefore apologize sincerely and profusely in advance for any and all offence that can and/or will be caused by any or all of our actions or those of our associates or their associates, whether they are intentional or unintentional, real or perceived. We wish you a pleasant stay at our property but please do not take any offence if for some reason you would have preferred an unpleasant stay."
May 25, 2014, 9:23 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
I read through the entire thread with great interest (esp. several posters explaining how they were educating hotels slowly and gently) yet did not see any part that relates to any guest´s sexual preferences here. That having been said. I am guessing that you are correct, however. Few if any hotels would be aware of one´s sexual preferences
May 25, 2014, 9:26 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
It's really sad that society has come to the point where political correctness has gone into such overdrive that greetings are now supposed to be neutral because of some fear of offence when no offence was even intended.
Starwood associates greeting customers warmly, with a smile and a "hello Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT looking to make a political statement. They're just saying "hello".
Starwood associates greeting customers warmly, with a smile and a "hello Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT looking to make a political statement. They're just saying "hello".
Picking myself up from the floor after reading that one. ^^^ Perhaps also nominating it for the post of the month.
May 25, 2014, 10:42 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
It's really sad that society has come to the point where political correctness has gone into such overdrive that greetings are now supposed to be neutral because of some fear of offence when no offence was even intended.
Starwood associates greeting customers warmly, with a smile and a "hello Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT looking to make a political statement. They're just saying "hello".
Starwood associates writing out welcome cards to warmly greet "Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT trying to denigrate gay marriage or uphold traditional marriages. They just thought they were being nice by arranging a personal greeting and maybe even an amenity.
Perhaps the solution to all this silliness is what Oberlin College in Ohio has now proposed which is that trigger warnings be added to any of their student's reading material. Yes, the academic elites' fear of offending anyone. I would hate to be attending college these days
Starwood associates greeting customers warmly, with a smile and a "hello Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT looking to make a political statement. They're just saying "hello".
Starwood associates writing out welcome cards to warmly greet "Mr and Mrs such and such" are NOT trying to denigrate gay marriage or uphold traditional marriages. They just thought they were being nice by arranging a personal greeting and maybe even an amenity.
Perhaps the solution to all this silliness is what Oberlin College in Ohio has now proposed which is that trigger warnings be added to any of their student's reading material. Yes, the academic elites' fear of offending anyone. I would hate to be attending college these days
Starwood does not have information on SPG member marital status, whether single, straight married or gay married or otherwise. If you want a hotel to know for sure you're a gay couple, then tell them when you check in. If not, don't assume they can figure out on their own.
May 25, 2014, 11:16 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,789
I believe that it's "orientation," since people do not choose to be gay/lesbian. They're born that way.
May 25, 2014, 12:38 pm
#51
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
Posts: 2,402
That is certainly heartening to hear. Thought it's not totally surprising for the Middle East, since these hotels tend to be staffed with non-Muslims from Europe, Philippines and other parts of Asia. The Gulfies in particular have gotten leery about hiring Muslims from other countries.
Don't let this lull you into a false sense of security when outside hotels: the Islamic take on homosexuality varies from tolerant indifference to extremely harsh persecution. Outsiders will have a very hard time guessing which to expect.
Don't let this lull you into a false sense of security when outside hotels: the Islamic take on homosexuality varies from tolerant indifference to extremely harsh persecution. Outsiders will have a very hard time guessing which to expect.
Yeah it is not like I am making a declaration, but the more closeted/strict the country the less likely they are to have a clue.
May 25, 2014, 12:41 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
Posts: 2,402
Political correctness gone amuck.
Starwood does not have information on SPG member marital status, whether single, straight married or gay married or otherwise. If you want a hotel to know for sure you're a gay couple, then tell them when you check in. If not, don't assume they can figure out on their own.
Starwood does not have information on SPG member marital status, whether single, straight married or gay married or otherwise. If you want a hotel to know for sure you're a gay couple, then tell them when you check in. If not, don't assume they can figure out on their own.
May 25, 2014, 3:38 pm
#55
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
That is certainly heartening to hear. Thought it's not totally surprising for the Middle East, since these hotels tend to be staffed with non-Muslims from Europe, Philippines and other parts of Asia. The Gulfies in particular have gotten leery about hiring Muslims from other countries.
Don't let this lull you into a false sense of security when outside hotels: the Islamic take on homosexuality varies from tolerant indifference to extremely harsh persecution. Outsiders will have a very hard time guessing which to expect.
Don't let this lull you into a false sense of security when outside hotels: the Islamic take on homosexuality varies from tolerant indifference to extremely harsh persecution. Outsiders will have a very hard time guessing which to expect.
Homophobia is only avoided because of non Muslim employees? All Muslims are homophobic?
As *wood recognises, the actions of a state are not the same as the views of the citizens.
May 25, 2014, 3:44 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
However, this discussion is veering heavily into OMNI territory so I suggest it move back on track before it gets moved.
May 25, 2014, 3:47 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,012
May 25, 2014, 3:50 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
May 25, 2014, 3:51 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York and Vienna
Programs: PA WorldPass Platinum, AA, DL, LH. GHA Black, SPG and HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,870
I sense that the problem the other poster had about a "master list" relates more to the idea of drawing up such lists and how they were used to round up Jews, gays, others under the NSDAP regime and elsewhere.