An agreement has been reached between a hotel owner in the tourist area of Orlando, Florida and the U.S. Justice Department regarding a discrimination lawsuit brought against the resort. The lawsuit was filed after the hotel canceled a conference for an Arab American group following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to the complaint filed by the DOJ on Thursday, AWH Orlando Property, the owner of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld, was accused of discriminating based on national origin when they decided to cancel hosting an annual summit for the Arab America Foundation in November 2023.
The DOJ stated that there were no specific threats or risks to the hotel related to the summit and no other non-discriminatory reason for canceling the event for the Arab American cultural and educational group.
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“Simply put, the hotel decided not to allow an Arab group, namely the Foundation, to hold their event at the DoubleTree in the midst of ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” the complaint stated. “This was an unprecedented move for the DoubleTree, going against the desires of the customer.”
The owner refuted the accusations and did not accept liability. The owner’s attorneys stated that the agreement with the DOJ was reached immediately after the complaint was filed to avoid prolonged legal action.
“We are firmly committed to inclusivity and creating a welcoming environment for all,” the statement said. “As part of this commitment, we actively implement measures such as regular training on diversity, equity, and inclusion, while striving for continuous improvement and adherence to best practices.”
The U.S. Department of Justice is seen on June 11, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
AWH Partners stated that they have no influence or involvement in the hotel’s management or operations as they are passive, limited-partner investors.
As per the agreement, the hotel is required to issue a statement to the Arab America Foundation within a month, explicitly stating their welcome to all guests regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.
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The hotel must also implement a written anti-discrimination policy and reach out to at least five Arab or Arab American organizations to inform them of the hotel’s open-door policy to all members of the public.
The agreement is subject to approval by a federal judge.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
