(qlmbusinessnews.com Tues. 3rd Sept, 2024) London, UK —
Holiday Park Operator Pontins Admits to Discriminatory Practices Against Irish Travellers
Holiday park operator Pontins has issued a formal apology to the Irish Traveller community, admitting that its past practice of refusing guests suspected to be from the community was “clearly wrong.” This apology is part of a new action plan aimed at tackling discrimination against Irish Travellers, following findings from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
The one-year action plan, developed in collaboration with the EHRC, comes after the watchdog discovered that Pontins had engaged in discriminatory practices between 2013 and 2018. The EHRC investigation, released earlier this year, revealed that the company had systems and procedures specifically designed to exclude Irish Travellers from its holiday parks.
Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chair of the EHRC, said on Monday, “Race and ethnicity should never be a barrier to going on holiday. Pontins has today apologised to the Irish Traveller community it discriminated against and has begun work to introduce strict safeguards and guarantee a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.”
The investigation uncovered 11 instances of unlawful acts, including rejecting or cancelling bookings made by individuals with Irish-sounding names or accents. It also found that Pontins had compiled a list of common Irish surnames, labelled “undesirable guests,” which included names such as Boyle, Keefe, Gallagher, O'Donnell, McGuiness, Murphy, and O'Reilly.
Additionally, the EHRC revealed that Pontins maintained a “banned list” of people thought to be Irish Travellers, along with their associates. Another discriminatory measure was a policy requiring guests to be listed on the electoral register, which disproportionately affected Gypsy and Traveller communities.
As part of the new action plan, Pontins has scrapped the electoral register requirement and pledged not to reintroduce it. The plan also includes the implementation of a whistleblower policy, engagement with Traveller communities, and monitoring of booking policies. The EHRC will oversee the rollout of these measures to ensure compliance.
A spokesperson for Pontins reiterated the company’s apology for the “serious issues” highlighted by the EHRC, expressing deep regret for any distress caused, particularly to members of the Traveller and Gypsy communities.
“We are fully committed to ensuring ongoing compliance with the Equality Act 2010, implementing a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination of all forms, and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all of our guests,” the statement added.
Pontins has also confirmed that the call centre, where many of the incidents took place, has now been closed.
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