Brunei hotel boycott spreads to London
The boycott of Brunei-owned hotels has spread to London, just weeks after properties in the US were the subject of a backlash by celebrities and high profile figures over the sultanate’s introduction of controversial new Islamic laws.
Several celebrities and business people in the US have boycotted hotels owned by the Dorchester Collection hotel chain, which includes the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in California and which is owned by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the ruler of the tiny former British protectorate of Brunei.
The Beverly Hills City Council even called for the Sultan to divest ownership of the hotel group and any other properties he owns in the area. Several high profile media events due to be held at the hotels in Los Angeles, have been cancelled.
Last week, the British Society of Magazine Editors pulled out of holding its annual awards show at the iconic Dorchester Hotel in London in protest over its links to Brunei. More dramatically, the Royal Philharmonic Society, one of the world’s oldest music societies, is reportedly considering dropping its long association with the Dorchester Hotel in protest over political events in Brunei.
It was also reported that organisers of the London premiere for the latest X-Men movie cancelled their bookings at Brunei-owned hotels for the same reason.
Addressing the ongoing fallout, Dorchester Collection CEO Christopher Cowdray said: “While we recognise people’s concerns, we believe this boycott should not be directed to our hotels and dedicated employees. The economic impact of this not only affects our loyal team members but extends to the local community, our valued partners and suppliers.”
The boycott of Brunei-owned hotels has spread to London, just weeks after properties in the US were the subject of a backlash by celebrities and high profile figures over the sultanate’s introduction of controversial new Islamic laws. Several celebrities and business people in the US have boycotted hotels owned by the Dorchester Collection hotel chain, which includes the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in California and which is owned by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the ruler of the tiny former British protectorate of Brunei. The Beverly Hills City Council even called for the Sultan to divest ownership of the...
The boycott of Brunei-owned hotels has spread to London, just weeks after properties in the US were the subject of a backlash by celebrities and high profile figures over the sultanate’s introduction of controversial new Islamic laws.
Several celebrities and business people in the US have boycotted hotels owned by the Dorchester Collection hotel chain, which includes the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in California and which is owned by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the ruler of the tiny former British protectorate of Brunei.
The Beverly Hills City Council even called for the Sultan to divest ownership of the hotel group and any other properties he owns in the area. Several high profile media events due to be held at the hotels in Los Angeles, have been cancelled.
Last week, the British Society of Magazine Editors pulled out of holding its annual awards show at the iconic Dorchester Hotel in London in protest over its links to Brunei. More dramatically, the Royal Philharmonic Society, one of the world’s oldest music societies, is reportedly considering dropping its long association with the Dorchester Hotel in protest over political events in Brunei.
It was also reported that organisers of the London premiere for the latest X-Men movie cancelled their bookings at Brunei-owned hotels for the same reason.
Addressing the ongoing fallout, Dorchester Collection CEO Christopher Cowdray said: “While we recognise people’s concerns, we believe this boycott should not be directed to our hotels and dedicated employees. The economic impact of this not only affects our loyal team members but extends to the local community, our valued partners and suppliers.”
