AG百家乐在线官网

Homeless Christmas back on after Hull hotel cancellation row

The Royal Hotel says it cancelled a charity's booking after hearing homeless people caused issues at another hotel last Christmas.

The Royal Hotel in Hull
Image: The Royal Hotel in Hull
Why you can trust Sky News

A hotel in Hull has offered rooms to homeless people at Christmas free of charge after another hotel cancelled a charity's booking.

Rooms for 28 homeless people at the Royal Hotel in Hull had been booked for a two-night stay from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day.

The hotel has been heavily criticised after it cancelled the 14-room booking over the weekend, which Carl Simpson from Raise the Roof Hull homeless project had already paid £1,092 for.

No immediate reason was provided but Mr Simpson accused the hotel, owned by budget hotel group Britannia Hotels, of "discrimination" as he had been clear about who would be staying.

Hundreds of people shared his Facebook post about the cancellation and he has said the DoubleTree by Hilton has now stepped in to offer the homeless people rooms and a Christmas dinner free of charge.

"We can confirm that the DoubleTree Hilton have offered to put up 28 people for two nights with breakfast and Xmas dinner provided and they are doing this complimentary," he posted on Facebook.

"Thank you so much. We will be accepting this kind offer."

More on Hull

Carl Simpson provided the confirmation email for his booking for 28 homeless people over Christmas. Pic: Facebook
Image: The confirmation email for the hotel booking. Pic: Facebook

Mr Simpson said a number of other businesses had offered services, money and help, including another hotel which offered a Christmas dinner.

"Who says miracles don't happen?" he added.

After initially refusing to provide a reason for the cancellation, Britannia Hotels explained on Monday evening it was because it had heard reports of bad behaviour at the Ibis Hotel last Christmas by homeless people whom Mr Simpson had organised to stay there.

But he said that was entirely untrue and the 24 people he paid for to stay at the Ibis last year were "so grateful".

"Some left staff gifts using the very little money they had, and one asked if he could vacuum the rooms to show his appreciation," he said.

"This means the world to homeless people. Last year we had tears of joy from someone who stood on the edge of the Humber Bridge the night before."

A Britannia Hotels spokeswoman said the cancellation decision was made after it received a call from a woman claiming to be part of the charity.

"She had rung to warn us that the group had caused serious problems at the Ibis and that she felt we should not take the booking," she said.

"Among the issues last year were trashing of rooms, fires, theft of hotel goods and property and damage to property.

"The hotel has a number of families and tours staying at the hotel over the Christmas period which we feel would suffer if the booking was taken."

Mr Simpson said the Ibis confirmed there were no problems last year.

Hundreds of people donated money after the initial booking was cancelled, with nearly £10,000 raised by Tuesday morning through an online GoFundMe page.

The charity said the money will go towards helping rehabilitate homeless people in Hull.